LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 'CALIFORNIA. 

GIFT  OF 
THE    FAMILY  OF   REV.   DR.   GEORGE    MOOAR 

Class 


"STONEHENGE,"  McCLURE,  AND  HARVEY  ON  THE  HOESE, 


THE   HORSE       » 

IN  THE  STABLE  AND  THE  FIELD; 

HIS  MANAGEMENT  IN  HEALTH  AND  DISEASE, 


BY  J.  II.  WALSH,  F.R.C.S.  * 

("  Stonehenge.") 

AUTHOR  OF  "BRITISH  RURAL  SPORTS,"  ETC.,. ETC. 


i\t  |Tast  ITonbou  (Ebiiion:. 


WITH  COPIOUS  NOTES  AND  ADDITIONS, 

BY  ROBERT  McCLURE,  M.D.,  V.S., 

Author  of  "Diseases  in  the  American  Stable,  Field,  and  Farmyard." 


AND    AN    ESSAY    ON    THE    AMERICAN    TROTTING    HORSE,    AND    SUGGESTIONS    ON 
THE    BREEDING    AND    TRAINING    OF    TROTTERS. 

BY  ELLWOOD  HARVEY,  M.D. 
ILLUSTRATED    WITH   OVER   EIGHTY  ENGRAVINGS. 


PHILADELPHIA : 

PORTER    &    C  GATES, 

No.  8az  CHESTNUT  STREET. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1869,  by 
PORTER  &  COATES, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  in  and  for  the  Eastern 
District  of  Pennsylvania. 

HEARS  &  DUSKNBERY,  STEREOTYPERS.  SHERMAN  &  CO.,  PRINTERS. 


PREFACE. 


WE  believe  it  may  be  asserted,  without  fear  of  contradiction,  that 
no  book  has  yet  been  published,  in  the  English  or  any  other  language, 
which  even  professes  to  give  a  complete  description  of  the  Natural 
History,  Physiology,  Pathology,  and  General  Management  of  the 
Horse,  in  a  form  and  style  suited  to  the  country  gentleman  of  the 
nineteenth  century.  It  is  true,  that  some  of  these  departments  are 
adequately  described  in  separate  works  ;  but  they  are  generally  written 
in  technical  language,  suited  rather  to  the  Veterinary  Student  than 
for  the  use  and  comprehension  of  the  ordinary  reader.  The  writings 
of  Percivall  in  England,  and  of  Girard,  Chauveau,  and  Colin  in 
France,  contain  full  and  accurate  details  of  the  Anatomy  and  Physi- 
ology of  this  animal ;  while  the  Structure  and  Diseases  of  his  Foot 
have  been  the  subjects  of  various  elaborate  treatises  by  Bracy  Clark, 
Spooner,  Coleman,  and  Turner,  in  this  country.  But  in  order  to 
reach  the  information  which  he  requires,  the  reader  has  to  wade 
through  many  long  and  wearisome  chapters,  wholly  irrelevant  to  the 
practical  subjects  in  which  he  is  interested,  and  he  therefore  gives  up 
the  study  in  disgust  as  a  hopeless  task.  So,  also,  in  reference  to  the 
general  diseases  of  the  horse,  Percivall's  "  Hippopathology"  is  a  mine 
of  information ;  but  it  is  so  elaborate,  and  so  diffuse  in  style,  that 
it  is  consequently  never  or  rarely  seen  on  the  library  shelves  of  the 
private  gentleman.  Stable  management  was  well  described  by  Stew- 
art, of  Edinburgh,  five-and-twenty  years  ago,  and  his  work  still  con- 
tinues to  be  the  best  manual  on  this  particular  subject;  but  since  it 
was  written  many  great  changes  have  been  introduced  into  general 
use,  and  it  is  therefore  now  somewhat  behind  the  times.  For  these 
reasons  the  author  of  this  work  has  thought  that  a  book,  combining 
all  the  above  subjects,  treated  in  a  practical  manner,  and  in  a  style 
popularly  intelligible,  yet  containing  the  most  recent  views  of  eminent 
authorities  in  veterinary  knowledge,  would  supply  a  deficiency  which 
has  long  been  complained  of  by  all  who  are  interested  in  the  proper 
management  of  the  horse, 

Oil) 
f 230 74    • - 


IV  PREFACE. 

In  order  to  compress  within  the  limits  of  one  volume  the  informa- 
tion which  has  hitherto  been  spread  over  so  many,  it  has  been  neces- 
sary to  forego  all  attempts  at  illustration  by  anecdote  or  by  records  of 
cases;  and  the  several  chapters,  therefore,  will  be  found  to  contain 
only  what  is  absolutely  necessary  for  the  elucidation  of  each  subject, 
with  the  aid  of  numerous  engravings,  accurately  drawn  and  carefully 
engraved  after  drawings  by  Barraud,  H.  Weir,  Zwecker,  Scott,  &c.,  &c. 

THE  AUTHOR. 


In  bringing  before  the  American  public,  this  edition  of  a  work 
which  has  long  been  acknowledged  as  the  ablest  authority  on  the 
subject  in  England,  the  publishers  have  spared  neither  time  nor 
expense  in  adapting  it  in  every  particular  to  the  requirements  of  the 
American  Farmer  and  Amateur.  There  is  not  a  page  in  the  English 
edition  but  has  been  carefully  revised,  some  local  and  purely 
scientific  matter  of  no  interest  whatever  to  the  American  owner  of  a 
horse  has  been  omitted,  late  authorities  consulted,  and  every  page 
brought  down  to  the  present  state  of  knowledge  on  the  subject.  This 
was  intrusted  to  the  skilful  hands  of  DR.  McCniRE,  the  well-known 
author  of  "The  Diseases  of  the  American  Stable,  Field,  and  Farm- 
yard." 

The  Essay  on  the  American  Trotting  Horse,  by  DR.  ELLWOOD 
HARVEY,  of  Chester,  Pa.,  a  gentleman  thoroughly  conversant  with  his 
theme,  was  written  at  the  urgent  request  of  the  publishers,  and  embo- 
dying, as  it  does,  the  study  and  research  of  years,  it  will  be  found  a 
valuable' addition  to  the  work. 

Our  thanks  are  due  to  Gen.  Welch,  Chestnut  Hill,  Philada. ;  Robert 
Bonner,  Esq.,  New  York ;  C.  P.  Relf,  Esq.,  Norristown,  Pa. ;  and 
D.  Swigert,  Esq.,  of  Spring  Station,  Ky. ;  for  their  kindness  in  permit- 
ting us  to  obtain  correct  likenesses  of  the  noble  animals  whose  portraits 
appear  in  these  pages,  and  foi  -he  interest  they  have  shown  in  the 
success  of  this  work;  and  to  Messrs.  Scheiber  &  Son,  and  Wenderoth, 
Taylor  &  Brown,  of  Philada.,  and  Mr.  George  G.  Rockwood,  of  New 
^ork,  for  the  excellent  photographs  they  have  taken  of  the  cele- 
brated horses  they  represent, 

THE  AMERICAN  PUBLISHERS. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

EARLY  HISTORY  OP  THE  HORSE. 

PAGE 

The  Horse  of  Scripture— The  Greek  Horse— That  of  the  Romans— The 
Arab  of  Antiquity — Egyptian,  Libyan,  Numidian,  and  Moorish  Horses — 
The  original  British  Horse — Ancient  methods  of  using  the  Horse  .  .  13 


CHAPTER  II. 

GENERAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 

Habits — External  Form  as  indicated  by  Points — Proportions — Maturity — 
Average  Age  —  Periodical  Moulting  —  Mental  Development  —  Small 
Stomach  ,  18 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  HORSES  OP  THE  EAST. 

The  Barb — The  Egyptian  Horse — The  Horses  of  Dongola  and  Abyssinia — 
Other  African  Horses — The  Modern  Arab — The  Persian  Horse — The 
Turkish  Horse — Other  Asiatic  Horses — The  Australian  Horse 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  HORSES  OP  THE  WESTERN  HEMISPHERE. 

The  South  American  Horse — The  Mustang — The  Indian  Pony — The  Cana- 
dian Horse — The  Morgan  Horse — The  American  Trotter — The  Narragan- 
set  Pacer — The  American  Thorough-bred — The  Vermont  Cart-Horse — 
The  Conestoga  Draught-Horse  .......  45 

(v) 


vi  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  V. 

THE  THOROUGH-BRED  HORSE. 

PAQB 

Early  Maturity — Object  of  Encouraging  the  Breed — Essentials  in  the 
Thorough-bred — Purity  of  Blood — External  Formation — Height — Color 
— Coat,  Mane,  and  Tail 57 

CHAPTER  VI. 

ON  THE  LOCOMOTIVE  ACTION  IN  THE  VARIOUS  PACES. 

Natural  and  Acquired  Paces — Distribution  of  Weight — Attitude  assumed 
in  Standing — Mode  of  Progression — The  Walk — Trot — Canter — Hand- 
Gallop — Extended  Gallop — The  Amble — Racking,  Pacing,  and  Running 
— The  Paces  of  the  Manege — Leaping,  or  Jumping  .  .  .  .76 

CHAPTER  VII. 

THE   PRINCIPLES  OP  BREEDING  APPLICABLE  TO  THE  HORSE. 

Theory  of  Generation — In-and-in  Breeding — Out-Crossing,  Advantages 
and  Disadvantages  of  each  Plan — Causes  of  a  "Hit" — Importance  of 
Health  and  Soundness  in  both  Sire  and  Dam — Best  Age  to  Breed  from — 
Influence  of  Sire  and  Dam  respectively — Choice  of  Sire  and  Dam — The 
kind  of  Horse  most  likely  to  be  profitable  to  the  Breeder — Concluding 
Remarks  on  Breeding  .  .  '«'•'••  •_  •  •  •  •  •  .99 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

«    THE  BROOD  MARE  AND  HER  FOAL. 

The  Hovel  and  Paddock — General  Management  of  the  Brood-Mare — Treat- 
ment when  in  Foal — After  Foaling — Early  Management  of  the  Foal — 
Weaning  and  After  Treatment  of  the  Foal 117 

CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  BREAKING  OP  THE  COLT. 

Rarey's  Principles  and  Practice — Ordinary  English  Method  of  Breaking  for 
the  Saddle — Superiority  of  the  Latter  when  properly  carried  out — Break- 
ing to  Harness  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  «  .  «  .  .  128 

CHAPTER  X. 

STABLES. 

Situation  and  Aspect — Foundations — Stalls  and  Loose  Boxes— Hay  Cham- 
ber and  Granary— Materials  for  Floors — Doors  and  Windows— Drainage 


CONTENTS.  Vll 

PAGB 

and  Water  Supply — Ventilation  and  Lighting — Stable  Fittings — Harness 
Room — Coach-House — Servants'  Rooms — Ground  Plans  of  Stables — 
Necessity  for  Airing  New  Stables 155 


CHAPTER  XL 

STABLE  MANAGEMENT. 

Theory  and  Practice  of  Feeding  and  Watering — Dressing  or  Grooming — 
Clipping,  Singeing,  and  Trimming — Use  and  Application  of  Bandages — 
Management  of  the  Feet — Daily  Exercise — Proper  Temperature  of  the 
Stable — Remedies  for  Stable  Vices  and  Bad  Habits — Preparation  for 
Work— Ordinary  Sweating— The  Turkish  Bath— Physic— Final  Prepara- 
tion— Treatment  after  Work — Summering — Care  of  Saddlery  and  Har- 
ness  .  .  177 


CHAPTER  XII. 

RIDING. 

Mounting  and  Dismounting — The  Seat — Management  of  the  Reins — Modes 
of  Starting  the  Horse  into  his  Various  Paces — Riding  to  Hounds— Out- 
door Vices  and  Bad  Habits 230 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

CLASSIFICATION  OF  THE  VARIOUS  ORGANS,  AND  PHYSIOLOGY  OF  THE  SKELETON. 

Classification  of  the  Various  Organs — Structure  of  Bone — Of  the  Skeleton 
in  General — The  Artificial  Skeleton — Number  of  Bones  composing  the 
Skeleton — General  Anatomy  of  the  Spinal  Column — Of  the  Head  and 
Face — Of  the  Thoracic  Arch  and  Anterior  Extremities — Of  the  Pelvic 
Arch  and  Hind  Extremities— Of  the  Tail— Of  the  Fore  and  Hind  Ex- 
tremities considered  as  Organs  of  Support  and  Locomotion  .  .  .  248 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  TEETH.          .  "...   '".'.'    .  .  .    257 


CHAPTER  XV. 

OF  THE  JOINTS  AND  MUSCLE— THE  TISSUES  ENTERING  INTO  THKIR  COMPOSITION. 

The  Joints — Cartilage — Fibrous  Tissue — Physiology  of  Muscle  .         .         .  26fi 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  THORAX. 

PAGK 

Contents  of  the  Thorax— The  Blood— General  Plan  of  the  Circulation— 
The  Veins — Physiology  of  Respiration 272 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE  ABDOMINAL  AND  PELVIC  VISCERA. 

The  Abdomen  and  its  Contents — Physiology  of  Digestion — Structure  of 
Glands  and  Physiology  of  Secretion — Depuration,  and  its  Office  in  the 
Animal  Economy — The  Stomach — The  Intestines — Liver— Spleen — Pan- 
creas—  Kidneys — Pelvis — Bladder — Organs  of  Generation,  Male  and 
Female  .  .>> 278 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE  NERVES  AND  SPECIAL  ORGANS. 

The  Nerves— The  Organ  of  Smell— The  Eye— The  Ear— The  Organ  of 
Touch— The  Foot 286 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  DISEASES  AND  INJURIES  OP  BONE. 

General  Remarks — Splints — Ringbone  and  Sidebone — Ossification  of  the 
Lateral  Cartilages — Bone  Spavin — Exostosis  of  the  Humerus  and  Scapula, 
or  Shoulder- Joint  Lameness — Fistula  of  the  Withers,  or  Thiselo— Poll 
Evil — Caries  of  the  Jaw — Osteo  Sarcoma,  or  Big  Head — Fractures  .  297 

CHAPTER  XX. 

INJURY  AND  DISEASES  OP  THE  JOINTS,  MUSCLES,  AND  TENDONS. 

Diseases  of  Muscle,  Tendon,  and  Ligament — Of  Cartilage  and  Synovial 
Membrane — Inflamed  Tendinous  Sheaths — Inflamed  Bursae  Mucosse — 
Strains— Those  of  the  Back  and  Loins— Of  the  Shoulder— Of  the  Knee 
— Of  the  Fetlock — Of  the  Coffin  Joint — Of  the  Suspensory  Ligaments — 
Of  the  Back-Sinews — Breaking  Down — Strains  of  the  Hip-Joint,  Stifle, 
and  Hock— Curb— Dislocation— Wounds  of  Joints  .  .  311 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

DISEASES  OF  THE  THORACIC  ORGANS  AND  THEIR  APPENDAGES. 

General  Remarks — Catarrh,  or  Cold— Influenza,  or  Distemper — Bronchitis 
— Chronic  Cough — Laryngitis,  Roaring,  Whistling,  etc. — Pneumonia  and 


CONTENTS.  IX 

PAGE 

Congestion  of  the  Lungs — Pleurisy — Pleurodynia — Phthisis — Broken 
"Wind — Thick  Wind — Spasm  of  the  Diaphragm — Diseases  of  the  Heart — 
Diseases  of  the  Blood  Vessels  in  the  Chest  and  Nose  ,  .  .  326 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

DISEASES  OP  THE  ABDOMINAL  VISCERA  AND  THEIR  APPENDAGES. 

General  Remarks — Diseases  of  the  Mouth  and  Throat — Gastritis — Stomach 
Staggers — Dyspepsia — Bots — Inflammation  of  the  Bowels — Colic — Diar- 
rhoea and  Dysentery — Strangulation  and  Rupture — Calculi  in  the  Bowels 
—Worms— Disease  of  the  Liver— Of  the  Kidneys— Of  the  Bladder— Of 
the  Organs  of  Generation  .  .  .  «(/  .  .  .  .  .  350 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

DISEASES  OP  THE  NERVOUS  SYSTEM. 

Phrenitis,  or  Mad  Staggers — Epilepsy  and  Convulsions — Megrims — Rabies, 
Hydrophobia,  or  Madness  —  Tetanus,  or  Lock-jaw  —  Apoplexy  and 
Paralysis — String  Halt — Coup  de  Soleil,  or  Sun-stroke  ,  .  .  .  375 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

DISEASES   AND  INJURIES  OP  CERTAIN  SPECIAL  ORGANS. 

Dit-eases  of  the  Ear — Inflammation  of  the  Eye — Cataract — Amaurosis — 
Buck-eye — Surfeit — Hidebound — Mange — Lice — Mallenders  and  Sallen- 
ders — Warbles,  Sitfasts,  and  Haruess-Galls — Grubs— Bites  and  Stings  of 
Insects — Swelled  Legs — Chapped  Heels — Grease,  or  Scratches — Warts 
— Corns  —  Sandcrack  —  False  Quarter — Quittor — Thrush — Canker — La- 
minitis— Seedy  Toe — Contraction  of  the  Foot — Navicular  Disease — Acci- 
dents to  the  Legs  and  Feet  ........  ~%  383 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

CONSTITUTIONAL  DISEASES. 

Fevers — Anasarca — Glanders — Farcy  ,      • 417 

CHAPTER  XXVI, 

SHOEING,  .  .  .  .  .  .    422 

CHAPTER  XXVII, 

OPERATIONS. 

Administration  of  Chloroform— Methods  of  Confining  the  Horse— Bleeding 
—Firing— Setons  and  Rowels— Blistering— Castration— Docking  and 
Nicking — Unnerving — Reduction  of  Hernia— Administration  of  Physic 
—Clysters— Back-Rating  *  i  .....  ,  432 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

THE  PRINCIPAL  MEDICINES,  AND  THE  DOSES  IN  AVHJCH  THEY  CAN  SAFELY  BE 
ADMINISTERED. 

P\U8 

Alteratives — Anodynes — Antiseptics — Anti-Zumins — Aperients  —  Astrin- 
gents— Blisters — Caustics,  or  Cauteries — Clysters,  or  Injections — Deter- 
gents— Diuretics — Embrocations,  or  Liniments — Febrifuges — Lotions,  or 
Washes — Physic  Balls  and  Drenches — Stimulants — Stomachics — Tonics 
— Traumatics — Vermifuges,  or  Worm  Medicines 448 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

LIST  OF  IMPORTED  HOUSES 461 


ESSAY  ON  THE  AMERICAN    TROTTING   HORSE,  AND  SUGGESTIONS  ON  THE 
BREEDING  AND  TRAINING  OF  TROTTKRS 467 

PEDIGREES  OF  CELEBRATED  TROTTING  HORSES          ....    507-523 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


FULL  PAGE  ENGRAVINGS. 

FLORA  TEMPLE  AND  HER  COLT.    From  a  photograph  from  life,  by  SCHBEIBEB  &  SON. 
MAMBRINO  PILOT     From  a  painting  from  life,  by  E.  TROYE. 
LEXINGTON.    From  a  drawing  from  life,  by  E.  TROYE. 
ETHAN  ALLEN.    From  a  photograph  from  life,  by  SCHREIBER  &  SON. 
DEXTER.    From  a  photograph  from  life,  by  SCHREIBER  &  SON. 
HAMBLETONIAN  (KYSDYK'S).    From  a  painting  from  life,  by  GLOVER. 
SKELETON  OF  THE  HORSE. 
DISEASES  OF  THE  HORSE. 

SECTION  OF  THE  ABDOMEN  AND  PELVIS,  WITH  THE  INTESTINES  AND  LIVER  REMOVED- 
LONGITUDINAL  SECTION  OF  THE  THORAX,  ETC. 

PAGE 

POINTS  OF  THE  HORSE 20 

(.'BLIQUE  SHOULDER 22 

UPRIGHT  SHOULDER , 22 

PROPORTIONS  OF  THE  VARIOUS  POINTS 27 

THE  GODOLPHIN  ARABIAN 31 

CHABAN,  AN  ARABIAN  STALLION 35 

THE  CANADIAN  HORSE 47 

CONESTOGA  DRAUGHT-HORSE 56 

FISHERMAN — AN  ENGLISH  THOROUGH-BRED 62 

SAUNTERER — AN  ENGLISH  THOROUGH-BRED 64 

STARTING  FOR  THE  WALK 80 

RECEIVED  INTERPRETATION  OF  THE  WALK 81 

EXCEPTIONAL  MODE  OF  STARTING 82 

ACTION  IN  THE  TRUE  TROT 88 

THE  CANTER 90 

RECEIVED  INTERPRETATION  OF  THE  GALLOP 91 

CORRECT  VIEW  OF  THE  GALLOP 94 

MARE  AND  FOAL 125 

RAREY'S  LEG-STRAP,  No.  1 131 

RAREY'S  LEG-STRAP,  No.  2 132 

CRUISER  WITH  THE  LEG-STRAP  AND  SURCINGLE  ON 132 

CRUISER  IN  THE  POWER  OF  HIS  MASTER 133 

THE  HORSE  BOUNDING  ON  HIS  HIND  LEGS 134 

THE  HORSE  ON  HIS  KNEES,  ABOUT  TO  FALL  ON  HIS  SIDE 135 

(xi) 


xii  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGB 

THE  HORSE  TAMED 138 

RAREY'S  HALTER  OR  BRIDLE  FOR  COLTS 142 

DOOR  FOR  LOOSE  Box 161 

VENTILATING  WINDOWS 162 

SECTION  OF  CATCH-PIT 163 

IRON-SURFACE  GUTTER 165 

VENTILATING  SHAFT 167 

HEAD  OF  SHAFT 167 

THE  HANGING  BAIL 168 

IRON-FITTINGS  FOR  STALLS  AND  LOOSE  B^x 172 

GROUND-PLAN  OF  A  RACING  OR  HUNTING  STABLK 175 

GROUND  PLAN  OF  A  STABLE  FOR  FOUR  OR  FIVE  HORSES 176 

BAR-MUZZLE  FOR  CRIB-BITERS 203 

REMEDY  FOR  TEARING  THE  CLOTHES 205 

GROUND-PLAN  OF  A  TURKISH  BATH  FOR  HORSES 214 

THE  HUNTER  TURNED  OUT  TO  GRASS 226 

READY ,....  230 

PROFILE  VILW  OF  THE  BONES  OF  THE  HEAD  AND  FACE 254 

SECTION  OF  INCISOR » 257 

THREE-YEAR  OLD  MOUTH 259 

MOUTH  OF  THE  COLT  AT  FOUR-AND-A-HALF  YEARS 260 

UPPER  NIPPERS  AND  TUSHES  AT  FIVE  YEARS  OLD 261 

LOWER  NIPPERS  AND  TUSHES  AT  FIVE  YEARS  OLD 262 

LOWER  NIPPERS  AND  TUSHES  OF  A  SIX-YEAR  OLD  HORSE 262 

UPPER  NIPPERS  IN  THE  EIGHT-YFAR  OLD  HORSE 263 

LOWER  NIPPERS  AND  LEFT  TUSH  OF  A  VERY  OLD  HORSF,  THE  RIGHT  HAVING  FALLEN  OUT 264 

SECTIONAL  PLAN  OF  THORAX  AND  ITS  CONTENTS  (THROUGH  THE  GIRTH-PLACE) 272 

GENERAL  PLAN  OF  THE  CIRCULATION 275 

SKCTION  OF  THE  PARTS  ENTERING  INTO  THE  COMPOSITION  OF  THE  FOOT  AND  THE  FETLOCK  AND 

PASTERN-JOINTS 291 

THE  HOOF 292 

FRONT  VIEW  OF  THE  FOOT,  WITH  THE  HOOF  REMOVED 292 

THE  UNDER  SURFACE  OF  THE  FOOT 292 

VIEW  OF  VESSELS  OF  THE  FOOT,  INJECTED 294 

VIEW  OF  THE  ARTERIES  OF  THE  FROG  AND  SOLE.  INJECTED 295 

GROUP  OF  BOTS  ATTACHED  TO  THE  STOMACH 356 

SECTION  OF  THE  FOOT  IN  CONFIRMED  LAMINITIS 405 

A  SOUND  FORE  FOOT  PREPARED  FOR  THE  SHOE 426 

SHOEING 428 

SETON  NEEDLES,  ONE-QUARTER  SIZE 439 

CLAMS  LINED  WITH  VULCANIZED  INDIA-RUBBER 442 

THE  ECRASEUR 443 

I>)CKING-KNIFE 444 

FLOUA  TEMPLE  TROTTING ..  489 


THE  HORSE 


CHAPTER    I. 
EARLY   HISTORY   OF   THE   HORSE. 

The  Horse  of  Scripture — The  Greek  Horse — That  of  the  Romans 
—  The  Arab  of  Antiquity — Egyptian,  Libyan,  Numidian,  and 
Moorish  Horses —  The  original  British  Horse — Ancient  methods 
of  using  the  Horse. 

THE  HORSE  OF  SCRIPTURE. 

I  HE  EARLIEST  RECORD  of  the  Horse  which  we  possess 
is  in  the  Old  Testament,  where  we  first  find  him  infer- 
entially  mentioned  in  the  thirty-sixth  chapter  of  Gen- 
esis, as  existing  in  the  wilderness  of  Idumea  about 
the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century  before  Christ. 
Many  commentators,  however,  render  the  word  which  is  translated 
"  mules  "  in  our  version,  as  u  waters,"  and  thus  a  doubt  is  thrown 
upon  the  correctness  of  the  inference  which  is  thence  drawn. 
Moreover,  in  the  thirty-second  chapter  of  Genesis,  camels,  goats, 
sheep,  cattle  and  asses  are  all  severally  alluded  to,  but  no  horses ; 
so  that  it  is  highly  probable  that  in  the  time  of  Jacob,  whose  de- 
parture from  Laban  is  there  narrated,  horses  were  unknown  to  the 
Israelites.  It  was  not  until  after  their  arrival  in  Egypt  that  the 
horse  is  clearly  alluded  to.  Jacob,  on  his  deathbed,  leaves  us  no 
room  to  doubt  his  knowledge  of  the  horse,  and  of  its  being  domes- 
ticated, for  he  speaks  of  the  u  horse  and  his  rider"  in  the  same 
sentence.  We  need,  therefore,  go  no  further  for  a  proof  of  the 
early  existence  of  this  animal  in  Egypt,  and  may  assume  that 
there  were  large  numbers  of  them  there,  for  Pharaoh  is  recorded 
to  have  taken  "  six  hundred  chosen  chariots,  and  all  the  horses," 
to  pursue  the  Israelites  to  the  Red  Sea.  It  is  generally  supposed 
from  the  omission  of  all  mention  of  horses  while  the  Israelites 
were  in  Arabia,  that  this  country,  which  has  since  become  so  cele- 
brated for  them,  was  at  that  time  entirely  without  them.  The 
proof,  however,  is  entirely  of  a  negative  character,  though  I  con- 
fess that  it  is  as  strong  as  any  of  that  nature  can  well  be.  Indeed, 
2  (13) 


14  THE  HORSE. 

six  hundred  years  later,  Arabia  could  not  have  been  remarkable  in 
any  way  for  her  horses,  for  Solomon,  while  he  resorted  to  her  for 
silver  and  gold,  mounted  his  cavalry  from  Egypt.  Yet  the  latter 
country  could  scarcely  be  the  native  land  of  the  Horse,  not  pos- 
sessing the  extensive  plains  which  ^are  peculiarly  suited  to  his  ex- 
istence in  a  wild  state,  and  it  is  considered  probable  that  he  was 
introduced  from  the  central  regions  of  Africa,  which  are  undoubt- 
edly the  native  plains  of  the  Quagga,  the  Zebra,  and  some  other 
congeners  of  the  Horse;  but  where,  curiously  enough,  he  is  not 
now  found  in  a  wild  state.  Thence  he  would  naturally  find  his 
way  into  Egypt,  and  through  Arabia  to  Persia,  Tartary  and  Greece, 
ultimately  reaching  Great  Britain ;  but  in  what  century  he  was 
introduced  there  we  are  quite  at  a  loss  to  conjecture. 

THE  GREEK  HORSE. 

OF  THE  PRECISE  FORM  of  the  Horse  of  Scripture  we  have  no 
account,  beyond  the  glowing  language  of  Job,  which  will  apply  to 
almost  any  variety  possessing  the  average  spirit  of  the  species. 
The  horse  of  the  Greeks  is  far  better  known,  being  handed  down 
to  us  in  the  writings  of  Xenophon,  and  preserved  in  the  marble 
friezes  of  the  Parthenon,  which  are  now  removed  to  our  own  Na- 
tional Museum.  The  above  Greek  writer,  in  giving  his  advice  on 
the  purchase  of  a  horse,  says,  "  On  examining  the  feet,  it  is  befit- 
ting first  to  look  to  the  horny  portion  of  the  hoofs,  for  those  horses 
which  have  the  horn  thick  are  far  superior  in  their  feet  to  those 
which  have  it  thin.  Nor  will  it  be  well,  if  one  fail  next  to  observe 
whether  the  hoofs  be  upright  both  before  and  behind,  or  low  and 
flat  to  the  ground ;  for  high  hoofs  keep  the  frog  at  a  distance  from 
the  earth,  while  the  flat  tread  with  equal  pressure  on  the  soft  and 
hard  parts  of  the  foot,  as  is  the  case  with  bandy-legged  men.  And 
Simon  justly  observes  that  well-footed  horses  can  be  known  by  the 
sound  of  their  tramp,  for  the  hollow  hoof  rings  like  a  cymbal  when 
it  strikes  the  solid  earth.  But  having  begun  from  below,  let  us 
ascend  to  the  other  parts  of  the  body.  It  is  needful  then,  that 
the  parts  above  the  hoof  and  below  the  fetlocks  be  not  too  erect 
like  those  of  the  goat,  for  legs  of  this  kind  being  stiff  and  inflex- 
ible, are  apt  to  jar  the  rider,  and  are  more  liable  to  inflammation. 
The  bones  must  not,  however,  be  too  low  and  springy,  for  in  that 
case,  the  fetlocks  are  liable  to  be  abraded  and  wounded,  if  the 
horse  be  gallopped  over  clods  or  stones.  The  bones  of  the  shanks 
should  be  thick,  for  these  are  the  columns  which  support  the  body, 
but  they  should  not  have  the  veins  and  flesh  thick  likewise  ;  for 
if  they  have,  when  the  horse  shall  be  gallopped  in  difficult  ground, 
they  will  necessarily  be  filled  with  blood,  and  will  become  varicose, 
so  that  the  shanks  will  be  thickened,  and  .the  skin  be  distended 
and  relaxed  from  the  bone ;  and  when  this  is  the  case  it  often 


THE  GREEK  HORSE.  15 

follows  that  the  back  sinew  gives  way  and  renders  the  horse  lame. 
But  if  the  horse,  when  in  action,  bend  his  knees  flexibly  at  a  walk, 
you  may  judge  that  he  will  have  his  legs  flexible  when  in  full 
canter ;  for  all  horses  as  they  increase  in  years  increase  in  the  flex- 
ibility of  the  knee.  And  flexible  goers  are  esteemed  highly  >  and 
with  justice,  for  such  horses  are  much  less  liable  to  blunder  or  to 
stumble  than  those  which  have  rigid,  unbending  joints.  But  if 
the  arms  below  the  shoulder-blades  be  thick  and  muscular,  they 
appear  stronger  and  handsomer,  as  is  the  case  also  with  a  man. 
The  breast  also  should  be  broad,  as  well  for  beauty  as  for  strength, 
and  because  it  causes  a  handsomer  action  of  the  fore-legs,  which 
do  not  then  interfere,  but  are  carried  wide  apart.  And  again,  the 
neck  ought  not  to  be  set  on  like  that  of  a  boar,  horizontally  from  the 
chest,  but  like  that  of  a  game-cock,  should  be  upright  towards  the 
crest,  and  slack  towards  the  flexure  ;  and  the  head,  being  long, 
should  have  a  small  and  narrow  jaw-bone,  so  that  the  neck  shall  be 
in  front  of  the  rider,  and  that  the  eye  shall  look  down  on  what  is 
before  the  feet.  A  horse  thus  made  will  be  the  least  likely  to  run 
violently  away,  even  if  he  be  very  high-spirited,  for  horses  do  not 
attempt  to  run  away  by  bringing  in,  but  by  thrusting  out,  their 
heads  and  necks.  It  is  also  very  necessary  to  observe  whether  the 
mouth  be  fine  or  hard  on  both  sides,  or  on  one  or  the  other.  For 
horses  which  have  not  both  jaws  equally  sensitive,  are  likely  to  be 
hard-mouthed  on  one  side  or  the  other.  And  it  is  better  that  a 
horse  should  have  prominent  than  hollow  eyes,  for  such  a  one  will 
see  to  a  greater  distance.  And  widely-opened  nostrils  are  far 
better  for  respiration  than  narrow,  and  they  give  the  horse  a  fiercer 
aspect ,  for  when  one  stallion  is  enraged  against  another,  or  if  he 
become  angry  while  being  ridden,  he  expands  his  nostrils  to  their 
full  width.  And  the  loftier  the  crest,  and  smaller  the  ears,  the 
more  horse-like  and  handsome  is  the  head  rendered ;  while  lofty 
withers  give  the  rider  a  surer  seat  and  produce  a  firmer  adhesion 
between  the  body  and  shoulder.  A  double  loin  is  also  softer  to  sit 
upon,  and  pleasanter  to  look  at,  than  if  it  be  single ;  and  a  deep 
side,  rounded  toward  the  belly,  renders  the  horse  easier  to  sit,  and 
stronger,  and  more  easy  to  keep  in  condition.  The  shorter  and 
broader  the  loin,  the  more  easily  will  the  horse  raise  his  fore- 
quarters  and  collect  his  hind-quarters  under  him  in  going.  These 
points,  moreover,  cause  the  belly  to  appear  the  smaller;  which,  if 
it  be  large,  at  once  injures  the  appearance  of  the  animal,  and  ren- 
ders him  weaker  and  less  manageable.  The  quarters  should  be 
broad  and  fleshy,  in  order  to  correspond  with  the  sides  and  chest; 
and,  should  they  be  entirely  firm  and  solid,  they  would  be  the 
lighter  in  the  gallop,  and  the  horse  would  be  the  speedier.  But 
if  he  should  have  his  buttocks  separated  under  the  tail  by  a  broad 
line,  he  will  bring  his  hind  legs  under  him  with  a  wider  space  be- 


16  THE  HORSE. 

tween  them,  and,  so  doing,  he  will  have  a  prouder  and  stronger 
gait  and  action,  and  will  in  all  respects  be  the  better  on  them." 

Here  we  have  described,  in  most  exact  terms,  a  cobby  but  spirited 
and  corky  horse,  with  a  light  and  somewhat  peculiar  carriage  of 
the  head  and  neck,  just  as  we  see  represented  in  the  Elgin  n:arbles 

THE  EOMAN  HORSE. 

OF  THE  ROMAN  HORSE  we  know  far  less  than  of  that  of  the 
Greeks ;  but  the  fact  of  its  inferiority  to  those  of  the  surrounding 
nations  is  established,  for  no  sooner  were  they  brought  into  col 
lision  with  the  cavalry  of  Macedonia  and  Epirus  than  they  suc- 
cumbed. This  could  only  be  owing  to  the  quadruped,  for  the 
Roman  foot-soldier  was  still  unmatched.  Caesar  depended  for  his 
cavalry  upon  Gallic  horses,  which  were  able  to  ride  down  the  Ro- 
man horses  of  his  rival  Pompey  without  the  slightest  difficulty. 
So  also  Crassus  was  unable  to  make  head  in  Asia  against  the  Par- 
thian horse;  and  from  his  day  until  British  horses  were  trans- 
ported to  Oriental  soil,  the  superiority  of  Asiatic  horses  remained 
undisputed. 

THE  AEAB  OF  ANTIQUITY. 

THE  ARAB  OF  THE  PRESENT  DAY  is  said  by  his  countrymen  to 
be  the  same  in  form,  in  courage,  and  in  endurance,  with  the  horse 
which  existed  in  Arabia  before  the  time  of  Christ.  I  have  shown 
that  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  Israelites  who  dwelt 
in  Arabia  had  no  horses  in  the  time  of  Jacob,  and  therefore  it  is 
scarcely  likely  that  this  variety  could  have  arrived  at  its  present 
state  of  excellence  much  before  the  commencement  of  the  Chris- 
tian era.  But  beyond  the  traditional  accounts  which  are  preserved 
in  the  various  tribes,  there  is  no  means  of  arriving  at  the  truth, 
and  they  are  to  be  regarded  with  considerable  suspicion.  Buffon 
comes  to  the  conclusion,  nevertheless,  that  Arabia  is  the  birthplace 
of  this  animal,  and  his  opinions  are  followed  by  a  host  of  subse- 
quent writers ;  but  I  have  already  given  the  reasons  for  the  con- 
trary conclusion.  The  dry  nature  of  the  country,  and  the  scanti- 
ness of  herbage,  show  that  in  a  wild  state  the  horse  could  hardly 
exist  there,  and  that  it  is  only  by  the  care  and  superintendence  of 
man  that  the  Arabian  horse  has  become  so  famous. 

EGYPTIAN,  LIBYAN,  NUMIDIAN,  AND  MOORISH  HORSES. 

THE  EGYPTIAN  HORSE  is  handed  down  to  us  on  some  of  the 
sculptures  found  in  the  ruins  of  Nineveh ;  the  carvings  of  which 
are  in  a  high  state  of  preservation,  and  are  very  elaborate  and 
spirited.  Even  the  superficial  veins  are  carefully  rendered ;  and 
hence  we  may  place  some  reliance  upon  the  fidelity  of  the  por- 
traiture. In  all  these  bas-reliefs  the  animal  is  represented  with  a 


ANCIENT  METHODS  OF  USING  THE  HORSE.  17 

large  and  coarse  head,  a  high  crest,  and  a  heavy,  lumbering  body, 
not  very  dissimilar  to  the  Flemish  horse  of  the  nineteenth  century. 
OF  THE  LIBYAN,  NUMIDIAN,  AND  MOORISH  horses,  which  are 
alluded  to  by  classic  writers,  we  know  little  beyond  the  cursory 
description  of  jElian,  who  says  that  they  were  slenderly  made, 
and  carried  no  flesh. 

THE  ORIGINAL  BRITISH  HORSE. 

THE  NATURE  OF  THE  ORIGINAL  STOCK  which  formed  the  found- 
ation of  the  modern  European  horse  is  extremely  doubtful.  In 
Great  Britain  horses'  bones  are  found  in  caves  which  are  of  ex- 
treme antiquity,  but  they  do  not  define  with  any  certainty  the 
form  of  the  original  British  horse,  nor  can  we,  with  certainty, 
arrive  at  the  exact  era  at  which  the  animals  to  which  they  be- 
longed lived  and  died.  It  is,  however,  an  ascertained  fact  that 
when  the  Romans  invaded  Great  Britain  they  found  the  people  in 
possession  of  horses,  and  using  them  for  their  chariots  as  well  as 
for  the  purposes  of  riding.  After  the  irruption  of  the  Goths,  and 
the  commencement  of  the  dark  ages,  we  have  no  reliable  history 
to  guide  us,  and  we  are  left  to  grope  in  the  dark  from  the  fourth 
century,  when  Vegetius  wrote  on  the  veterinary  art,  until  the 
time  of  the  Stuarts,  when  attention  was  first  paid  to  the  improve- 
ment of  the  breed  of  horses  in  this  country. 

ANCIENT  METHODS  OF  USING  THE  HORSE. 

THE  MODE  OF  USING  the  horse  adopted  by  the  ancients  was  at 
first  by  harnessing  him  to  a  rude  chariot,  without  springs.  In 
course  of  time,  the  grooms  who  took  care  of  him  found  that  they 
could  manage  him  while  on  his  back  without  the  aid  of  the  saddle 
and  bridle,  which  are  comparatively  modern  inventions.  Hence, 
we  see  the  horse  represented  in  the  Elgin  marbles  as  ridden  with- 
out either  the  one  or  the  other  j  and  there  is  also  abundant  written 
testimony  in  support  of  this  mode  of  equitation  being  practised  by 
the  early  Greeks.  This  ingenious  people,  however,  invented  the 
snaffle-bridle,  and  both  rode  and  drove  with  its  aid,  after  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  Olympian  games,  in  which  chariot  races  formed  an 
essential  feature.  The  curb-bit  was  invented  by  the  Romans,  or, 
at  all  events,  was  first  used  by  them ;  but  both  that  people  and  the 
Greeks  were  ignorant  of  the  use  of  the  stirrup,  and  either  vaulted 
on  their  horses,  or  used  the  back  of  a  slave  as  a  stepping-stone,  or 
sometimes  had  recourse  to  a  short  ladder  for  the  purpose.  The 
earliest  period  when  it  can  be  proved  that  the  stirrup  was  in  use 
was  in  the  time  of  the  Norman  invasion  of  this  country.  The 
incidents  of  this  event  in  history  were  recorded  on  the  Bayeux 
tapestry  by  the  wife  of  William  the  Conqueror,  and  on  this  the 
stirrup  was  depicted,  according  to  the  authority  of  Berenger,  as  a 
2*  B 


18  THE  HORSE. 

part  of  the  trappings  of  the  horse.  Shoeing  was  not  practised  by 
either  the  Greeks  or  Romans,  and  only  in  cases  of  lameness  was 
the  foot  defended  by  a  sandal,  which,  however,  was  sometimes 
tipped  with  iron. 

UNTIL  SOME  TIME  AFTER  THE  INSTALLATION  OF  THE  OLYMPIAN 
GAMES  the  use  of  the  horse  was  confined  to  war  and  the  chase 
These  games  were  held  every  four  years,  and  are  supposed  to  have 
commenced  about  774  years  before  Christ,  and  as  it  was  not  until 
the  twenty-third  Olympiad  that  the  horse  was  introduced  in  the 
arena,  the  birth  of  horse-racing  may  be  fixed  at  about  the  year  680 
B.C.  At  first  the  horses  were  ridden,  and  the  distance  was  about 
four  miles,  but  in  the  twenty-fifth  Olympiad  the  chariot  was  intro- 
duced, and  after  this  time  became  the  prevailing  instrument  of 
testing  the  speed  and  powers  of  the  Grecian  horse.  Here,  also, 
•the  distance  was  about  four  miles,  but  as  a  pillar  was  to  be  rounded 
several  times,  the  race  depended  quite  as  much  on  the  skill  of  the 
charioteer  as  on  the  qualities  of  his  horses. 


CHAPTER  II. 
GENERAL    CHARACTERISTICS. 

Habits — External  Form  as  indicated  by  Points — Proportions — Ma- 
turity— Average  Age — Periodical  Moulting — Mental  Develop- 
ment— Small  Stomach. 

HABITS. 

THE  HABITS  of  the  horse  in  a  wild  or  free  state,  are  similar  to 
those  of  most  of  the  gregarious  and  graminivorous  animals.  That 
is  to  say,  he  places  his  safety  in  flight;  but  when  compelled  to  make 
a  stand  against  any  of  the  larger  carnivora,  he  fights  strongly  with 
his  heels  and  teeth.  In  all  countries  he  feeds  upon  grass  (green, 
or  dried  as  hay),  straw,  or  grain;  in  addition  to  which  articles  may 
bs  placed  camel's  milk,  which  is  used  occasionally  in  the  deserts 
of  Arabia,  when  the  usual  supply  of  food  is  altogether  deficient. 
In  a  free  state,  where  the  horse  has  to  travel  far  for  his  food,  he 
becomes  inured  to  fatigue,  and  is  able  to  make  long  journeys,  with- 
out the  training  which  the  domesticated  animal  requires.  Thus 
the  South  American  and  Californian  horses,  immediately  after 
being  taken  with  the  lasso,  are  able  to  carry  their  riders  for  sixty 
or  seventy  miles  on  end  at  a  fast  pace,  suffering,  of  course,  from 
the  unaccustomed  pressure  of  the  saddle,  but  not  otherwise  the 
worse  for  their  exertions.  The  walk  and  gallop  are  the  only  na- 
tural paces  of  the  wild  horse;  the  trot  and  canter  being  acquired, 


EXTERNAL  FORM.  19 

though  to  some  extent  exhibited  by  the  domesticated  horse  before 
breaking,  and  evidently  the  result  of  the  tendency  which  is  always 
displayed  to  hand  down  from  one  generation  to  another  habits 
which  are  not  natural  to  the  species. 

EXTERNAL  FORM,  AS  INDICATED  BY  POINTS. 

THE  ANATOMY  of  this  animal  will  form  the  subject  of  a  special 
division  of  this  book,  but  the  external  form  may  now  be  discussed 
with  propriety.  By  horsemen  in  general  this  is  considered  under 
certain  subdivisions,  which  are  called  "  points,"  and  which  are 
severally  re-presented  by  figures  in  the  outline  on  the  following  page. 

THE  RELATIVE  PROPORTIONS  of,  and  exact  shape  desirable  in, 
each  of  these  points,  vary  considerably  in  the  several  breeds. 
Thus,  when  speed  and  activity  are  essential,  an  oblique  shoulder- 
blade  is  a  sine  qua  non ;  while  for  heavy  harness  it  can  scarcely- 
be  too  upright,  enabling  the  pressure  of  the  collar  to  be  more  easily 
borne,  and  allowing  the  animal  to  exert  his  strength  at  right  an- 
gles to  its  long  axis.  Many  men  are  good  judges  of  hunters  and 
hacks,  but  are  almost  wholly  ignorant  of  the  qualities  desirable  in 
a  coach  or  cart-horse.  There  are  some  elements,  however,  which 
are  wanted  in  any  horse,  such  as  big  hocks  and  knees,  flat  legs 
with  large  sinews,  open  jaws  and  full  nostrils.  It  will,  therefore, 
be  necessary  to  describe  the  points  of  each  breed;  but  I  shall  here 
give  those  which  are  always  to  be  attended  to  as  being  of  import- 
ance in  any  kind,  whether  used  for  racing  or  hunting,  for  the  road 
or  for  agricultural  purposes. 

TAKING  FIRST  THE  HEAD  : — It  should  be  known  that  the  vo- 
lume of  brain  contained  within  it  determines  the  courage  and 
other  mental  qualities  of  the  individual.  Now  as,  cseteris  paribus, 
size  is  power,  so  without  a  wide  forehead  (which  part  marks  the 
seat  of  the  brain)  you  cannot  expect  a  full  development  of  those 
faculties  known  as  courage,  tractability,  good  temper,  &c.  The 
size  of  the  muzzle  is  partly  regarded  as  an  element  of  beauty,  and 
partly  as  a  sign  of  high  breeding.  Hence,  in  the  cart-horse,  a 
coarse  jaw  and  thick  muzzle  are  not  regarded.  A  large  and  patent 
nostril  cannot  be  dispensed  with  in  horses  intended  for  fast  work, 
and  should  be  desired  even  in  the  curt  horse,  for  in  drawing  heavy 
loads  on  a  hot  day,  his  breathing  may  be  rendered  almost  as  labo- 
rious as  that  of  the  highly-tasked  racehorse  or  hunter.  So  also 
with  the  jaw,  if  there  is  not  ample  width  between  the  two  sides  for 
the  development  and  play  of  the  larynx  and  windpipe,  the  wind  is 
sure  to  be  affected,  and,  in  addition,  the  head  cannot  be  nicely 
bent  on  the  neck.  A  defect  in  this  last  point  is  the  usual  cause 
of  that  straight  and  inelegant  setting  on  of  the  head  which  is  so 
common,  and  which  the  practised  horseman  avoids,  as  alike  un- 
sightly and  prejudicial  to  the  wind  and  the  mouth;  for  a  horse 


20 


THE  HORSE. 


POINTS   OP   THE   HORSE. 


HEAD. 

1.  Muzzle. 

2.  Nostril. 

3.  Forehead. 

4.  Jaw. 

5.  Poll. 

NECK. 

6.  6.  Crest. 

7.  Thropple  or  windpipe. 

FORE -QUARTER. 

8.  8.  Shoulder-blade. 

9.  Point  of  shoulder. 

10.  Bosom  or  breast. 

11.  11.  True-arm. 

12.  Elbow. 

13.  Forearm  (arm). 

14.  Knee. 

15.  Cannon-bone. 

16.  Back  sinew. 

17.  Fetlock  or  pastern-joint. 

18.  Coronet. 

19.  Hoof  or  foot. 

20.  Heel. 

BODY  OR  MIDDLEPIECE. 

21.  Withers. 

22.  Back. 


23.  23.  Ribs  (forming  together  the  bar- 

rel or  chest). 

24.  24.  The  circumference  of  the  chest 

at  this  point,  called  the  girth 

25.  The  loins. 

26.  The  croup. 

27.  The  hip. 

28.  The  flank. 

29.  The  sheath. 

30.  The  root  of  the  dock  or  tail. 

THE   HIND-QUARTER. 

31.  The  hip-joint,  round,  or  whirl-bone. 

32.  The  stifle-joint. 

33.  33.  Lower  thigh  or  gaskin. 

34.  The  quarters. 

35.  The  hock. 

36.  The  point  of  the  hock. 

37.  The  curb  place. 

38.  The  cannon-bone. 

39.  The  back  sinew. 

40.  Pastern  or  fetlock-joint. 

41.  Coronet. 

42.  Foot  or  hoof. 

43.  Heel. 

44.  Spavin-place. 


POINTS  OF  THE  HORSE.  21 

which  cannot  give  way  to  the  pressure  of  the  bit  is  sure  to  become 
dull  in  his  mouth,  and  therefore  unpleasant  to  ride  or  drive.  The 
eye  is  to  be  examined  with  a  twofold  purpose,  firstly,  as  an  index 
of  the  temper,  the  nature  of  which  is  marked  by  the  expression 
of  this  organ ;  and  secondly,  in  reference  to  its  present  state  of 
soundness,  and  the  probability  of  its  continuing  healthy.  A  full 
and  clear  eye,  with  soft,  gazelle-like  expression,  is  scarcely  ever 
associated  with  a  bad  temper,  and  will  most  frequently  continue 
sound,  if  the  management  of  the  horse  to  which  it  belongs  is 
proper  in  itself.  The  ear  should  be  of  medium  size,  not  too  small, 
nor  too  large,  nor  should  it  be  lopped,  though  many  good  lop-eared 
horses  have  been  known,  and  some  very  superior  breeds,  like  that 
of  the  celebrated  Melbourne,  are  notorious  for  this  defect. 

THE  NECK  should  be  of  moderate  length,  all  beyond  a  certain 
dimension  being  waste,  and  even  a  moderate-sized  head  at  the  end 
of  an  extremely  long  lever  being  too  much  for  the  muscles  to  sup- 
port. It  should  come  out  full  and  muscular,  with  a  sweep  between 
the  withers  and  the  bosom,  and  should  gradually  diminish  till  it 
runs  into  the  head,  with  an  elegant  bend  just  behind  the  ear.  A 
very  narrow  throat  suddenly  bent  at  the  upper  part,  marked  as  the 
thropple,  is  apt  to  be  connected  with  roaring,  and  on  that  account 
is  objected  to  by  horsemen. 

IN  THE  FORE-QUARTERS,  there  are  several  points  to  be  atten- 
tively examined,  and  among  these,  the  shoulder  is  regarded  as  of 
most  consequence,  when  the  horse  under  consideration  is  intended 
for  the  saddle.  It  is  evident  that,  unless  there  is  length  of  the 
blade,  and  also  of  the  true  arm,  there  cannot  be  a  full  surface  for 
the  attachment  and  play  of  the  muscles,  nor  can  there  be  the  same 
amount  of  spring  to  take  off  the  jar  which  follows  each  footfall. 
The  straighter  the  angle  formed  by  the  long  axis  of  each  of  these 
bones,  the  less  spring  there  will  be.  So,  also,  if  the  angle  is  not 
sufficient,  the  muscles  of  the  shoulder-blade  will  not  thrust  forward 
the  true  arm,  nor  will  the  latter  be  sufficiently  clothed  with 
muscles  (without  being  loaded)  to  act  on  the  fore-arm,  commonly 
known  by  the  horseman  as  the  arm.  Hence  it  is  found,  that  with 
an  upright  shoulder,  not  only  is  the  stride  in  all  the  paces  short 
and  the  action  stumpy,  but  there  is  not  that  elastic  movement 
which  enables  the  horse  to  carry  his  body  along  rapidly  and  evenly, 
without  rising  alternately  behind  and  before,  and  thereby  jarring 
himself  or  his  rider.  On  the  other  hand,  the  upright  shoulder, 
loaded  with  a  thick  mass  of  muscles,  is  useful  in  the  cart-horse, 
and  to  a  certain  extent  also,  in  the  carriage-horse,  in  both  of  which 
the  pressure  of  the  collar  requires  a  steady  and  comparatively 
motionless  surface  to  bear  it.  The  difference  between  the  two 
extremes  of  oblique  and  upright  shoulders  is  well  illustrated  in 
the  accompanying  woodcut,  in  which  it  will  be  seen  that  in  the 


22 


THE  HORSE. 


former  the  angle  between  the  blade  (a)  and  the  true  arm  (ft)  is 
very  considerable,  while  in  the  latter  it  is  much  less.  Hence  it 
results,  that  when  the  muscles  of  the  blade  bring  the  axis  of  the 
arm  into  nearly  the  same  line  with  its  own  axis,  the  forearm  (e)  in 
the  oblique  shoulder  will  be  thrust  forward  and  raised  to  a  greater 
degree  than  in  the  upright  formation,  as  is  shown  in  the  engraving 
in  the  parts  represented  by  dotted  lines  (d  e).  It  follows,  there- 


OBLIQUE    SHOULDER. 


UPRIGHT   SHOULDER. 


fore,  that  horses  intended  to  have  nigh,  and  at  the  same  time  for- 
ward action,  should  have  oblique  shoulders,  for  without  them  they 
will  almost  to  a  certainty  either  have  very  mean  and  low  action, 
or,  if  they  do  bend  their  knees,  they  will  put  their  feet  down 
again  nearly  on  the  same  place  as  they  took  them  from,  which  pe- 
culiarity we  so  often  see  displayed  in  the  cart  breed,  or  those 
nearly  allied  to  it.  This  is  one  of  the  most  important  uses  of  the 
obliquity  of  the  shoulder-blade  as  it  seems  to  me,  and  one  which 
has  not  been  generally  admitted  by  writers  on  this  branch  of  the 
subject,  though  all  are  ready  to  admit  that  in  some  way  or  other 
this  formation  is  essential  to  good  action.  Another  reason  for  the 
obliquity  of  the  shoulder  in  the  riding-horse,  is  that  without  it  the 
saddle  is  not  kept  back  in  its  proper  place,  and  the  horseman's 
weight  being  thus  thrown  too  forward,  the  action  of  the  fore- 
quarter  is  impeded.  Mere  obliquity,  however,  is  not  sufficient  for 
this  purpose;  for,  without  a  proper  development  of  muscle,  the 
blade  itself  will  not  keep  the  saddle  in  its  place.  If,  therefore, 


POINTS  OF  THE  HORSE.  23 

there  is  a  hollow  just  behind  the  top  of  ~the  blade,  even  if  this  is 
slanting  enough,  you  must  expect  the  saddle  to  slip  forward,  and 
should,  in  all  doubtful  cases,  be  careful  to  put  one  on  before  con' 
eluding  a  purchase.  The  point  of  the  shoulder  should  be  well 
developed,  but  not  showing  any  rough  protuberances,  which  are 
equally  objectionable  with  a  flat  or  ill-developed  point.  The  length 
of  the  true  arm  is  mainly  dependent  upon  that  of  the  blade ;  but 
sometimes,  when  this  is  oblique  enough,  the  true  arm  is  short  and 
upright,  and  the  elbow  stands  under,  or  only  a  little  behind,  the 
shoulder  point.  This  is  a  very  faulty  conformation,  and  is  seldom 
attended  with  good  action.  The  chief  defect  in  the  elbow  is  seen 
when  it  turns  inwards,  and  rubs  so  closely  against  the  ribs  that  the 
finger  can  hardly  be  insinuated  between  them  and  it.  Here  the 
elbow  is  said  to  be  tied  or  confined,  and  the  horse  is  very  apt  to 
turn  his  toes  out ;  while  the  opposite  formation  is  indicated  by 
turned-in,  or  "  pigeon"  toes,  and  turned-out  elbows,  frequently 
Accompanying  long-standing  rheumatism  of  the  shoulders.  It 
does  sometimes  happen,  however,  that  the  toes  are  turned  in  or 
out  without  affecting  the  elbow,  but  this  is  an  exception  to  the 
rule.  A  long  and  muscular  fore-arm  is  a  sure  accompaniment  of 
strong  and  sweeping  action,  and  should  be  carefully  prized;  in 
othfcr  respects  there  is  little  to  be  noted  here.  Next  comes  the 
knee,  which  should  be  broad,  and  when  looked  at  from  the  front 
should  be  much  wider  than  the  limb  above  and  below.  It  should 
taper  off  backwards  to  a  comparatively  thin  edge,  and  should  have 
a  good  development  of  the  pisiform  bone,  which  projects  back- 
wards at  its  upper  part.  The  leg,  immediately  below  the  knee, 
should  be  as  large  as  any  other  part,  and  not  "  tied  in"  there, 
which  indicates  a  weakness  of  this  part.  A  bending  of  the  knee 
backwards  is  called  a  "  calf-knee,"  and  is  not  objected  to  in  cart- 
horses, in  which  it  is  by  no  means  uncommon  ]  but  it  is  very  apt 
to  lead  to  strains  of  this  joint  in  the  racehorse  or  hunter.  A  knee 
naturally  bending  somewhat  forward  is  much  preferred  by  good 
judges,  though,  when  it  is  the  result  of  over-work,  it  is  almost 
equally  to  be  avoided  with  the  calf-knee.  Flat,  and  at  the  same 
time  large,  cannon-bones,  without  gumminess,  are  of  great  import- 
ance, and  if  attended  with  a  full-sized  suspensory  ligament,  and 
with  strong,  clean,  and  free  back  sinews,  the  leg  is  to  be  considered 
faultless.  The  fetlock-joint  should  be  of  good  size  and  clean, 
whilst  the  pasterns  should  form  an  angle  with  the  ground,  of  be- 
tween forty-five  and  sixty  degrees.  Lastly,  the  foot  should  be  well 
formed  ;  but  the  construction  of  this  part  being  hereafter  more 
fully  described,  I  shall  omit  its  consideration  here. 

IN  THE  MIDDLEPIECE  the  withers  come  first  under  notice.  It 
is  usual  to  desire  them  high  and  thin,  but  they  are  very  commonly 
too  much  developed,  and  if  the  bony  processes  stand  up  like  the 
edge  of  a  razor,  without  muscle  on  them,  they  are  to  be  regarded 


24  THE  HORSE. 

as  objectionable  rather  than  otherwise.  The  inexperienced  horse- 
man is  apt  to  consider  the  existence  of  high  withers  as  a  sure  sign 
that  the  saddle  will  be  carried  well  back,  but  there  are  some  horses 
whose  withers  are  the  greatest  annoyance  to  the  rider,  for  having 
upright  and  short  shoulder-blades,  together  with  high  withers,  the 
saddle  rides  forward  upon  the  latter,  and  chafes  them  in  spite  of 
all  the  padding  which  can  be  introduced.  In  looking  at  this  point, 
I  believe  the  purchaser  should  almost  entirely  disregard  it,  except- 
ing to  take  care  that  it  is  not  too  high  for  the  formation  and  posi- 
tion of  the  shoulder-blades.  If  these  are  long,  and  therefore 
slanting,  and  especially  if  in  addition  to  a  proper  position  of  the 
bones  they  are  furnished  with  plenty  of  muscle,  the  withers  may 
be  disregarded,  and  the  action  may  be  expected  to  be  good  even  if 
they  are  so  low  as  to  show  no  rise  between  the  neck  and  the  back. 
The  volume  of  the  chest  is  the  measure  not  only  of  the  capacity 
of  the  lungs,  but  of  that  of  the  large  organs  of  digestion.  Hence, 
unless  there  is  a  middlepiece  of  proper  size,  the  wind  is  seldom 
good,  and  the  stamina  of  the  individual  will  scarcely  ever  be  suffi- 
cient to  bear  hard  work.  But  there  is  a  limit  to  the  development 
of  this  part  in  those  breeds  which  are  required  to  move  with  much 
velocity,  where  weight  is  a  great  object;  and  if  the  body  of  the 
racehorse  or  hunter  was  as  heavy  as  that  of  the  drayhorse,  the 
speed  would  be  greatly  reduced,  and  the  legs  would  give  way 
during  the  first  severe  gallop.  So  also,  a  wide  chest  interferes 
with  the  free  and  rapid  action  of  the  shoulders  and  arms  as  they 
glide  on  the  ribs ;  and  an  open  bosom  is  almost  always  fatal  to  high 
speed.  In  the  racehorse  and  hunter,  therefore,  capacity  of  chest 
must  be  obtained  by  depth  rather  than  width ;  while  in  the  cart- 
horse, a  wide  chest  and  a  frame  roomy  in  all  directions  is  desired, 
so  as  to  give  good  wind,  and,  at  the  same  time,  enable  the  animal 
to  keep  up  his  flesh  while  working  eight  or  nine  hours  per  day. 
For  light,  quick  draught,  a  formation  intermediate  between  the  two 
is  the  proper  one;  the  large  frame  of  the  cart-horse  being  too  heavy 
for  the  legs  to  bear  at  a  fast  pace,  and  leading  to  their  rapid  de- 
struction in  trotting  over  our  modern  hard  roads.  The  capacity 
of  the  lungs  is  marked  by  the  size  of  the  chest  at  the  girth;  but 
the  stamina  will  depend  upon  the  depth  of  the  back  ribs,  which 
should  be  especially  attended  to. 

A  SHORT  BACK,  with  plenty  of  ground  covered  nevertheless,  is 
the  desideratum  of  every  practised  horseman.  Unless  the  mea- 
surement from  the  shoulder  point  to  the  back  of  the  quarters  is 
somewhat  greater  than  the  height  at  the  withers,  the  action  is 
confined,  especially  in  the  gallop,  for  the  hind  legs  cannot  be 
brought  sufficiently  forward  on  account  of  the  interference  of  the 
fore-quarter;  and,  indeed,  from  the  want  of  play  in  the  back,  they 
are  generally  too  much  crippled  in  that  respect.  A  horse  "  short 
above  and  long  below"  is  the  perfection  of  shape  in  this  particular. 


POINTS  OF  THE  HORSE.  25 

but  he  is  not  very  commonly  met  with.  Where  length  below  is 
seen,  there  is  generally  too  much  space  between  the  last  rib  and 
the  hip,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  coupled  with  a  short  back,  we 
too  often  see  the  legs  all  "jumped  up  together,"  and  the  action 
short  and  stumpy.  Next  to  these  points  in  the  middlepiece  it  is 
important  to  pay  attention  to  the  upper  line  of  the  back,  which 
should  bend  down  a  little  behind  the  withers,  and  then  swell  out 
very  gently  to  the  junction  with  the  loins,  which  can  hardly  be 
too  wide  and  muscular.  The  inexperienced  eye  will  often  be 
deceived  by  the  hips,  for  if  these  are  narrow  the  muscles  rise  above 
them,  and  make  the  loin  and  back  look  stronger  than  they  really 
are,  the  contrary  being  the  case  where  the  hips  are  wide  and 
ragged.  This  latter  formation,  though  not  so  elegant  as  the  level 
hip,  is  prized  by  the  man  who  wishes  to  be  carried  well  to  hounds, 
and  he  will  jump  at  a  horse  which  would  be  passed  over  with  con- 
tempt by  the  tyro  as  "  a  great  raw-boned  brute."  A  slightly-arched 
loin  is  essential  to  the  power  of  carrying  weight ;  a  much-arched, 
or  "  hog"  back,  is  almost  sure  to  give  uneasy  action  from  its  want 
of  elasticity. 

IN  EXAMINING  THE  HIND-QUARTER,  so  much  depends  upon  the 
breed,  and  the  purposes  to  which  the  animal  is  to  be  put,  that  only 
a  few  general  remarks  can  be  given.  Thus,  for  high  speed,  there 
should  be  plenty  of  length  in  the  two  bones  which  unite  at  the 
stifle-joint,  without  which  the  stride  must  be  more  or  less  limited 
in  extent.  The  exact  position  of  the  hip-joint  not  being  easily 
detected,  the  tyro  has  some  difficulty  in  estimating  the  length  from 
it  to  the  stifle-joint,  but  he  can  readily  measure  the  length  from 
the  root  of  the  tail,  either  with  his  eye  or  with  a  tape,  if  he  cannot 
depend  upon  his  organ  of  sight.  In  a  flat  outline  this  will  come 
to  twenty-four  inches  in  a  horse  of  fifteen  hands  three  inches,  but 
measured  round  the  surface  it  will  be  two  inches  more.  Again, 
the  lower  thigh,  or  gaskin,  should  be  of  about  the  same  length ;  but 
if  measured  from  the  stifle  to  the  point  of  the  hock,  it  will  be  fully 
twenty-eight  inches  in  a  well-made  horse  of  high  breeding.  These 
measurements,  however,  will  be  much  greater  in  proportion  than 
those  of  the  cart-horse,  who  requires  strength  before  all  things, 
and  whose  stride  is  of  no  consequence  whatever.  In  him,  the 
length  of  the  upper,  or  true  thigh  is  generally  as  great  as  that  of  the 
thoroughbred,  but  the  lower  thigh,  is  much  shorter,  and  the  horse 
stands  with  a  much  straighter  hind  leg,  and  consequently  with  his 
hocks  making  a  very  slight  angle.  Muscular  quarters  and  gaskins 
are  desirable  in  all  breeds ;  for  without  strong  propellers,  no  kind 
of  work  to  which  the  horse  is  put  can  be  duly  performed.  The 
judge  of  a  horse  generally  likes  to  look  at  the  quarters  behind,  so 
as  to  get  a  good  view  of  their  volume,  and  unless  they  come  close 
together,  and  leave  no  hollow  below  the  anus,  he  suspects  that 
8 


26  THE  HORSE. 

there  is  a  want  of  constitution,  and  rejects  the  animal  on  that 
account.  But  not  only  are  muscles  of  full  size  required,  but  there 
must  be  strong  joints  to  bear  the  strain  which  these  exert,  and  one 
of  the  most  important  of  all  the  points  of  the  horse  is  the  hock. 
This  should  be  of  good  size,  but  clean  and  flat,  without  any  gum- 
miness  or  thoroughpins,  and  with  a  good  clean  point  standing  clear 
of  the  rest  of  the  joint;  the  "  curby  place"  and  the  situation  of 
spavin  should  be  free  from  enlargement ;  but  to  detect  these  dis- 
eases a  considerable  amount  of  practice  is  required.  Lastly,  the 
hocks  should  be  well  let  down,  which  depends  upon  the  length  of 
the  thigh,  and  insures  a  short  cannon-bone.  The  pasterns  and 
feet  should  be  formed  in  correspondence  with  those  of  the  fore 
extremity,  to  which  I  have  already  alluded. 

Such  are  the  recognised  points  to  be  desired  in  the  horse;  but  in 
spite  of  the  general  opinion  of  good  judges  being  in  favor  of  them, 
as  I  have  described,  no  one  can  predicate  with  certainty  that  a  horse 
possessing  them  all  in  perfection  will  have  a  corresponding  degree 
of  action  out  of  doors.  No  one  who  has  bought  many  horses  will 
be  content  with  an  inspection  in  the  stable,  even  if  the  light  is  as 
good  as  that  of  the  open  air,  for  he  well  knows  that  there  is  often 
a  vast  difference  between  the  estimate  of  the  value  of  a  horse  which 
he  forms  indoors  and  out.  Much  of  this  depends  upon  the  temper 
of  the  individual,  for  if  he  is  dull  and  heavy  he  will  not  "  make  a 
good  show,"  though  still  he  may  be  capable  of  being  sufficiently 
excited  by  hounds,  and  many  such  horses  are  invaluable  hunters. 
Independently,  however,  of  this  element,  it  will  be  sometimes  found 
that  the  frame  which  looks  nearly  perfectly  symmetrical  while  at 
rest,  becomes  awkward  and  comparatively  unsightly  while  in  mo- 
tion; and  the  horse  which  is  expected  to  move  well  will  often  be 
sent  back  to  his  stall  with  "  That  will  do,  thank  you/'  after  a 
single  run. 

PROPORTIONS  OF  THE  VARIOUS  POINTS. 

THE  PROPORTIONS  of  the  component  parts  of  the  horse,  as  I  have 
already  remarked,  vary  a  good  deal  in  the  different  breeds.  The 
following,  however,  may  be  taken  as  the  most  perfect ;  but  they 
refer  especially  to  the  racer,  hunter,  and  hack,  as  well  as  to  the 
lighter  and  more  blood-like  harness  horses,  and  must  not  be  strictly 
applied  to  the  draught-horse  in  any  of  his  varieties : — 

This  scale  is  drawn  in  inches,  and,  in  the  outline,  the  horse  is 
supposed  to  be  fifteen  hands  three  inches,  or  sixty-three  inches 
liigh.  The  measurements  are  the  average  of  those  carefully  taken 
from  six  horses  considered  to  be  of  perfect  symmetry.  Two  of 
these  were  celebrated  stallions,  two  thoroughbred  hunters,  and  two 
chargers  of  great  value. 


PROPORTIONS  OF  VARIOUS  POINTS. 


27 


Indies 

Height  at  withers  and  croup  ....  63 
Length  from  shoulder-point  to  quarter  66 
From  the  lowest  part  of  chest  to  the 

ground 36 

From  the  elbow-point  to  the  ground  .    39 
From  the  withers  to  the  pole,  just  be- 
hind the  ears,  in  a  straight  line    .     .    30 
The  same  measured  along  the  crest    .    32 

Length  of  head 22 

Width  across  the  forehead 9? 

Girth  varies  from  76  to  79. 

Circumference  of  fore  cannon-bone.  7£,  8,  8,  8,  8£,  and  9  inches. 

Circumference  of  arm  just  below  the  elbow,  16£  to  18  inches. 


From  the  withers  to  the  hip  .... 
From  the  stifle  to  the  point  of  the 

hock,  in  the  attitude  shown  in  the 

plan  ............ 

From  the  root  of  tail  to  stifle-joint  . 
From  the  point  of  the  hock  to  the 

ground   ........... 

Length  of  arm  from  the  elbow  to  the 

pisiform-bone      ........ 

From  the  pisiform-bone  to  the  gronnd 


Inches 
.    22 


On  comparing  these  measurements  with  those  of  Eclipse,  as 
recorded  by  St.  Bel,  it  will  appear  that  there  is  some  considerable 
variation  from  those  of  that  celebrated  horse,  which  he  is  said  to 
have  measured  during  life,  and  to  have  also  checked  his  dimensions 
after  death.  Thus,  though  Eclipse  was  very  low  before,  and  yet 
was  sixty-six  inches  high,  his  head  was  twenty-two  inches  long, 
being  the  same  as  the  average  length  of  the  six  horses  given  by 
myself,  though  they  are  three  inches  lower  at  the  withers,  and  at 
least  five  inches  lower  at  the  croup.  Again,  though  thus  shown 
to  be  particularly  short,  it  must  have  been  of  extraordinary  width ; 
for,  according  to  the  same  authority,  it  measured  one  foot  across 
below  the  eyes;  but,  as  Mr.  Percivall  remarks,  this  must  be  a 
mistake  for  above  the  eyes.  Indeed,  I  cannot  help  thinking,  in 


28  THE  HORSE. 

accordance  with  the  opinions  of  the  above  distinguished  English 
veterinarian,  that  in  other  respects  "  there  appears  some  discord- 
ance in  his  admeasurements"  of  Eclipse.  Nevertheless,  it  may 
safely  be  assumed,  according  to  Mr.  Percivall's  summing  up,  that 
"  he  was  a  big  horse  in  every  sense  of  the  word;  he  was  tall  in 
stature,  lengthy  and  capacious  in  body,  and  large  in  his  limbs. 
For  a  big  horse  his  head  was  small,  and  partook  of  the  Arabian 
character.  His  neck  was  unusually  long.  His  shoulder  was 
strong,  sufficiently  oblique,  and  though  not  remarkable  for,  not 
deficient  in,  depth.  His  chest  was  circular.  He  rose  very  little 
in  his  withers,  being  higher  behind  than  before.  His  back  was 
lengthy,  and  over  the  loins  reached.  His  quarters  were  straight, 
square,  and  extended.  His  limbs  were  lengthy  and  broad,  and 
his  joints  large,  in  particular  his  arms  and  thighs  were  long  and 
muscular,  and  his  knees  and  hocks  broad  and  well  formed.'7 

The  scale  which  I  have  given  likewise  differs  in  many  particulars, 
though  only  slightly,  from  that  which  is  usually  found  in  treatises 
on  the  horse;  but  I  have  preferred  trusting  to  Nature  herself 
rather  than  to  the  observations  of  previous  writers,  which  may  be 
consulted  by  the  reader  at  any  time. 

MATURITY. 

THE  HORSE  COMPLETES  HIS  DENTITION  at  five  years  old,  when 
he  may  be  said  to  be  mature.  At  eight  or  nine  years  the  lower 
teeth  lose  their  marks,  or  black  concavities,  after  which  there  is  no 
reliable  evidence  of  age,  which  can,  however,  be  tolerably  accurately 
guessed  at  from  the  length  of  the  front  teeth  or  nippers,  and  from 
the  general  appearance  of  the  horse,  especially  about  the  eyes,  as 
will  be  hereafter  shown. 

MARES  ARE  VERY  COMMONLY  ALLOWED  TO  BREED  in  their 
third  year,  being  put  to  the  horse  as  two  year  olds.  They  often, 
however,  come  "in  season"  as  yearlings,  and  many  would  then 
breed  if  allowed  to  be  covered.  It  is  found  by  experience  that  the 
foal  robs  the  dam  of  some  part  of  the  nourishment  which  is  destined 
by  nature  to  develop  the  maternal  frame,  and  hence  the  young 
mare  is  injured  in  size  and  substance  if  she  breeds  before  she  has 
come  very  near  to  maturity. 

AVERAGE  AGE. 

THE  AVERAGE  AGE  of  the  horse,  when  allowed  to  live  without 
the  risk  of  accidents  and  disease  which  he  incurs  in  his  usual  work, 
is  about  twenty-five  years.  Instances  of  greater  longevity  are 
recorded  on  good  authority,  and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that 
occasionally  he  has  reached  to  thirty-five  or  even  forty  years,  but 
these  are  rare  exceptions,  and  there  are  few  which  live  beyond  the 
twenty-eighth  year,  while  a  large  proportion  die  before  the  twenty- 
fifth.  Stallions  are  over-fed  and  under-exercised  in  proportion,  so 


MOULTING— MENTAL  DEVELOPMENT— STOMACH.  J& 

that  it  is  no  wonder  they  become  diseased,  and  seldom  die  froni 
old  age  j  but  brood-mares  are  not  so  mismanaged,  and  it  is  found 
that  they  become  quite  worn  out  soon  after  their  twentieth  year ; 
and  even  if  allowed  to  live  they  waste  away  and  die  by  degrees, 
generally  somewhere  between  their  twenty-third  and  twenty-eighth 
year.  \ 

PERIODICAL  MOULTING. 

THE  HORSE  SHEDS  HIS  COAT  once  a  year  in  all  countries,  and 
in  our  climate  a  second  half-moult  is  performed  in  the  autumn, 
when  the  summer  short  coat  is  partially  shed.  This  second  change 
consists,  however,  chiefly  in  a  growth  of  the  already  existing  hairs, 
which  become  coarser  and  longer,  especially  about  the  legs  and 
under-parts  of  the  body.  At  the  same  time  the  coat  loses  its  gloss, 
and  the  color  is  less  rich,  blacks  becoming  rusty  brown,  and  bays 
more  yellow  or  sandy-colored  than  before.  The  hair  of  the  mane 
and  tail  is  constantly  in  a  state  of  growth,  and  is  not  shed  period- 
ically. 

MENTAL  DEVELOPMENT. 

IN  MENTAL  DEVELOPMENT  the  horse  ranks  below  the  dog,  but 
he  is  capable  of  a  considerable  degree  of  education,  though  in 
countries  where  he  is  kept  constantly  confined  he  does  not  appear 
to  great  advantage  in  this  respect.  That  he  may  be  made  to 
understand  what  is  said  to  him  is  clear  enough  from  the  mode  of 
managing  farm-horses,  which  are  all  taught  to  obey  the  voice.  I 
have  on  one  occasion  seen  a  circus-horse  walk,  trot,  and  gallop  at 
the  word  of  command,  and  change  his  paces  on  the  instant ;  but 
this  feat  I  have  never  known  performed  by  any  other  exhibitor, 
nor  do  I  think  it  would  easily  be  imitated.  It  requires  a  high 
order  of  intellect  to  distinguish  between  the  three  paces  and 
change  them  on  the  instant,  and  if  I  had  not  myself  witnessed  the 
performance  on  two  several  occasions  I  should  scarcely  have  cred- 
ited it.  The  brain  of  this  animal  does  not  require  much  rest  by 
sleep,  and  four  or  five  hours  in  quiet  are  sufficient  to  keep  him  in 
health  if  he  is  not  very  hard  worked.  He  readily  sleeps  standing, 
and  some  individuals  never  lie  down ;  but  this  habit  of  sleeping 
standing  should  not  be  encouraged,  as  it  greatly  distresses  the  legs, 
and  tends  to  produce  fever  of  the  feet,  or  some  other  mischief  in 
ihe  lower  extremities. 

SMALL    STOMACH. 

ONE  OF  THE  GREATEST  PECULIARITIES  in  the  structure  of  the 
horse  is  the  small  size  of  his  stomach,  which  is  also  of  a  very 
simple  nature.  He  is  likewise  without  a  gall  bladder,  showing 
that  the  digestion  must  be  continuous  and  not  interrupted  by  dis- 
tinct intervals,  as  in  the  ruminants  and  carnivora.  Nature  has 
thus  framed  this  animal,  in  order  that  he  may  be  at  all  times  able 
2* 


30  THE  HORSE. 

to  exert  his  utmost  speod,  which  he  could  not  do  with  the  mass  of 
provender  in  his  stomach  which  is  carried  by  the  cow  or  sheep. 
The  same  provision  is  shown  in  the  udder  of  the  mare,  which  ia 
not  larger  than  that  of  the  goat  or  sheep. 

All  these  several  characteristics  of  the  horse  will  be  more  mi- 
nutely considered  under  the  different  heads  to  which  they  each 
belong  ;  but  they  are  here  grouped  together  to  give  a  better  general 
idea  of  the  animal  which  is  under  examination. 


CHAPTER    III. 
THE    HORSES    OF    THE    EAST. 

The  Barb —  The  Egyptian  Horse —  The  Horses  of  Dongola  and 
Abyssinia — Other  African  Horses — The  Modern  Arab — The. 
Persian  Horse — The  Turkish  Horse — Other  Asiatic  Horses — 
The  Australian  Horse. 

FOR  THE  FOLLOWING  DESCRIPTIONS  of  Oriental  varieties  of 
the  horse  I  am  indebted  to  the  accounts  of  travellers,  having  only 
seen  one  or  two  of  them,  and  those  only  as  single  specimens,  with 
the  exception  of  the  Arab. 

THE  BARB. 

THIS  KIND  is  named  after  the  country  in  which  it  is  found, 
which  is  rather  an  extensive  one,  comprehending  the  states  of 
Tunis,  Tripoli,  Algiers,  Fez,  and  Morocco,  all  lying  on  the  northern 
coast  of  Africa  to  the  west  of  Egypt.  Vegetation  is  very  luxu- 
rious in  the  valleys  watered  by  the  streams  which  descend  from 
the  Atlas  Mountains  in  their  course  to  the  Mediterranean,  and 
grass  is  abundant  in  the  early  spring  and  autumn,  but  in  the 
summer  season  the  great  heat  burns  it  all  up ;  and  therefore  the 
horse  is  dependent  upon  the  care  of  man  for  fodder  during  a  great 
part  of  the  year.  Berenger  describes  the  true  Barb  as  follows  : — • 

"  The  fore-hand  is  long,  slender,  and  badly  furnished  with 
mane;  but  the  neck  rises  distinctly  and  boldly  out  of  the  withers; 
the  head  is  small  and  lean  ;  ears,  of  good  size,  and  well  placed ; 
shoulders,  light,  obliquely  sloping,  and  broad ;  withers,  thin  and 
high;  loins,  straight  and  short;  flanks  and  ribs,  round,  and  well 
developed;  haunches,  strong;  croup,  somewhat  too  long;  quar- 
ters, muscular  and  full ;  legs,  clean,  and  the  tendons  clearly  marked 
and  separate  from  the  bone ;  pasterns,  somewhat  too  long  and 
slanting;  feet,  sound  and  of  good  shape.  In  size  they  are  lower 
than  the  Arabs,  seldom  measuring  more  than  fourteen  and  a  half 


THE   BARB. 


31 


hands,  and  they  have  not  as  much  spirit,  speed,  or  endurance,  al- 
though in  external  things  they  are  perhaps  superior  to  him." 

The  GODOLPHIN  ARABIAN,  of  which  the  annexed  cut  is  a 
representation,  is  said  to  have  been  imported  into  France  from 
Barbary,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been  presented  by  the  Emperor 
of  Morocco  to  Louis  XIV.  as  a  fine  Barb;  but  he  was  thought  so 
little  of  in  Paris  that  he  was  set  to  draw  a  cart  about  the  streets, 
from  which  ignoble  occupation  he  was  rescued  by  Mr.  Coke,  and 
brought  over  to  England.  This  gentleman  gave  him  to  a  Mr. 
Williams,  who  kept  the  St.  James'  Coffee-house,  and  by  him  he 
was  presented  to  the  Earl  of  Godolphin  for  stud  purposes.  It 


was,  however,  only  by  chance  that  his  value  was  discovered;  for 
being  used  as  teazer  to  Hobgoblin,  he  was  merely  put  to  Roxana 
on  the  refusal  of  that  horse  to  cover  her,  the  produce  being  Lath, 
one  of  the  best  horses  of  the  day.  The  Godolphin  Arabian  was 
of  a  brown  bay  color,  and  is  said  to  have  been  about  fifteen  hands 
in  height.  He  is  supposed  to  have  been  foaled  about  the  year> 
1724,  and  died  in  1753.  A  remarkable  feature  in  this  horse  is 
the  height  of  his  crest,  and*  he  is  also  invarinbly  represented  with 
round  and  drooping  quarters.  Several  portraits  of  him  are  in 
existence,  but  all  render  these  points  in  the  same  manner.  I  am 


32  THE  HORSE. 

not  aware  that  there  are  any  reliable  grounds  for  considering  this 
celebrated  horse  as  a  Barb  rather  than  an  Arab,  and  according  to 
the  usual  description  of  the  former,  his  size  is  against  the  hypo- 
thesis. Still,  as  he  is  generally  so  considered,  I  have  added  his 
description  to  that  of  the  Barb,  leaving  my  readers  to  draw  their 
own  conclusions. 

THE   EGYPTIAN   HORSE. 

IN  THE  FIRST  CHAPTER  I  have  shown  that  there  is  a  strong 
reason  for  believing  that  the  horse  was  introduced  to  Arabia 
through  Egypt,  and  that  the  latter  country  again  derived  its  supply 
from  the  central  regions  of  Africa,  which  probably  also  furnished 
the  Barbary  States.  The  modern  Egyptian  horse  is  a  very  second- 
rate  animal,  and,  according  to  Burckhardt,  u  is  ugly,  of  coarse  shape, 
and  looking  more  like  a  cart-horse  than  a  racer."  He  says,  "Their 
legs  and  knees,  and  short  and  thick  necks,  are  frequent  defects 
among  them.  The  head  is  sometimes  fine ;  but  I  never  saw  good 
legs  in  an  Egyptian  horse.  They  are  not  able  to  bear  any  great 
fatigue,  but  when  well  fed  their  action  occasionally  is  more  bril- 
liant than  that'  of  the  Arabian ;  their  impetuosity,  however,  ren- 
ders them  peculiarly  desirable  for  heavy  cavalry,  and  it  is  upon 
this  quality  alone  that  their  celebrity  has  ever  been  founded." 

There  are  said  to  be  some  fine  breeds  in  the^  interior  of  the 
country ;  but,  as  a  rule,  the  Egyptian  .horse  stands  very  low  in  the 
estimation  of  travellers.  Of  late  years  more  attention  has  been 
paid  to  his  breeding  by  the  Viceroy  and  his  subordinates,  and  it  is 
said  that  some  considerable  improvement  has  taken  place. 

THE   HORSES   OF   DONGOLA  AND   ABYSSINIA. 

THE  DONGOLA  BREED  has  been  celebrated  by  that  trustworthy 
authority,  Mr.  Bruce,  as  of  the  highest  symmetry,  size,  and 
strength.  He  also  praises  highly  their  temper  and  docility,  but 
seems  to  know  nothing  of  their  actual  performances.  Other  wri- 
ters, however,  find  fault  with  their  want  of  substance,  and  pro- 
nounce them  to  be  deficient  in  stoutness. 

THE  ABYSSINIAN  HORSE  is  generally  described  as  of  good  size 
and  power,  but  I  know  of  no  reliable  authority  on  which  to  depend 
in  reference  to  particular  points. 

OTHER  AFRICAN  HORSES. 

BESIDES  THE  ABOVE  DISTINCT  BREEDS  of  African  horses  there 
are  several  others  which  are  not  clearly  made  out,  but  to  which 
individual  travellers  have  alluded  as,  in  their  opinion,  decided 
varieties  of  the  animal.  Thus  Mr.  Tully  speaks  of  the  Bornou 
horse  as  superior  both  to  the  Barb  and  Arab,  but  his  statement  is 
not  verified  by  travellers  of  later  date.  The  South  African  horse, 
used  by  the*Kafirs  in  the  recent  wars  with  the  Boors  of  the  Cape 


THE  MODERN  ARAB  33 

of  Good  Hope,  is  a  most  wiry  and  useful  animal ;  but  there  is  no 
doubt  that  he  has  been  greatly  altered  from  the  original  form  of 
the  native  horse  by  crosses  with  the  English  and  Arabian  breeds, 
which  have  been  obtained  by  theft.  In  the  early  days  of  this  set- 
tlement the  native  horse  was  very  small,  seldom  reaching  to  four- 
teen hands,  and  though  hardy  and  capable  of  standing  a  good  deal 
of  work,  yet  plain  and  unsightly  in  appearance.  The  colonists 
have  so  improved  this  original  stock  that  they  can  now  furnish 
several  thousand  horses  annually  for  exportation,  averaging  fifteen 
hands  in  height,  and  of  very  superior  form  and  action.  They 
show  a  great  deal  of  Arabian  blood,  but  many  of  them  bear  a 
strong  resemblance  to  the  thorough-bred  English  horse,  several  of 
which  breed  have  been  at  various  times  introduced  into  the  colony. 

THE  MODERN  ARAB. 

THE  CONTROVERSY  relating  to  the  value  of  this  breed  in  the 
stud  has  raged  with  such  vehemence  that  it  is  difficult  to  obtain 
an  unprejudiced  opinion  upon  it.  One  thing,  however,  is  quite 
clear,  namely,  that  to  it  in  a  great  measure  we  owe  the  pre-eminence 
of  our  English  thorough-bred.  But  how  long  it  would  take  to 
bring  a  modern  Arab,  even  of  the  highest  caste,  to  the  state  of 
perfection  in  which  we  find  our  own  West  Australians  and  Stock- 
wells  it  would  be  difficult  to  say.  This  subject,  however,  will  be 
better  discussed  in  treating  of  the  English  breed  itself. 

ALI  BEY,  who  has  investigated  the  subject  with  great  acuteness, 
and  who  has  had  opportunities  beyond  the  reach  of  ordinary  wri- 
ters, describes  six  distinct  breeds  of  Arabs.  "  The  first,"  he  says, 
"  named  the  '  Dgelfe/  is  found  in  Arabia  Felix.  They  are  rare  at 
Damascus,  but  pretty  common  in  the  neighborhood  of  Anaze. 
They  are  remarkable  for  speed  and  fire,  yet  mild  as  lambs ;  they 
support  hunger  and,  thirst  for  a  long  time,  are  of  lofty  stature, 
narrow  in  the  chest,  but  deep  in  the  girth,  and  with  long  ears.  A 
colt  of  this  breed  at  two  years  old  will  cost  in  his  own  country  two 
thousand  Turkish  piastres. 

"  The  second  breed,  called  '  Seclaoni,'  comes  from  the  eastern 
part  of  the  Desert,  resembles  the  '  Dgelfe'  of  Anaze  in  appear- 
ance, but  is  not  quite  so  highly  valued. 

"'  Next  comes  the  '  Mefki/  handsome,  though  not  so  swift  as  the 
two  former  breeds,  and  more  resembling  the  Andalusian  in  figure. 
They  are  very  common  about  Damascus. 

"  Then  the  Sabi  resembles  the  Mef  ki ;  and  the  fifth  breed,  called 
Fridi,  is  very  common,  but  it  is  necessary  to  try  them  well,  for 
they  are  often  vicious,  and  do  not  possess  the  excellent  qualities  of 
the  other  breeds. 

"  Sixth,  comes  the  Nejdi,  from  the  neighborhood  of  Bussorah, 
and  if  they  do  not  surpass,  they  at  least  equal,  the.,'  Dgelfe  of 

C 


34  THE  HORSE. 

Anaze,  and  Seclaoni/  Horses  of  this  breed  are  little  known  at 
Damascus,  and  connoisseurs  assert  that  they  are  incomparable  ; 
thus  their  value  is  arbitrary,  and  always  exceeds  two  thousand 
piastres." 

The  first  and  last  of  these  breeds  are  those  which  are  most  sought 
after  by  East  Indian  sportsmen ;  and  Colonel  Bower,  who  is  one  of 
their  strongest  admirers,  tells  us  that  he  once  possessed  a  three- 
year-old  colt  which  stood  fifteen  hands  and  an  inch  at  that  age. 
He  describes  him  as  having  "  the  stereotyped  assortment  of  Eastern 
beauties  :  could  stick  his  nose  in  a  tumbler,  and  looked  the  gentle- 
man all  over;  remarkably  muscular,  and  as  stately  in  his  bearing 
as  an  autocrat,  but  his  clean  flat  wiry  legs,  measuring  eight  inches 
round  the  shank  below  the  knee,  had  nothing  English  in  their 
composition.  This  was  a  pure  Anaze  Arab,  but  his  career  in  the 
field  was  cut  short  by  his  casting  himself  in  his  stall,  and  dislocat- 
ing his  hip."  It  will  be  seen  that  no  mention  is  here  made  of  the 
breed  which  has  been  so  long  familiar  to  those  who  read  our  mo- 
dern histories  of  the  horse  as  that  called  "  Kochlani"  or  "  Kailhan," 
descended  from  the  stud  of  Mahomet,  who  is  supposed  by  ninny 
historians  to  have  laid  the  foundation  of  the  Arabian  pedigrees. 
There  is  a  tradition  that  the  Prophet,  being  desirous  of  selecting 
mares  for  his  stud,  had  a  number  of  them  which  had  been  used  as 
chargers  kept  for  two  days  without  water.  At  the  end  of  that 
time,  when  mad  with  thirst,  they  were  set  at  liberty,  and  at  the 
moment  when  they  were  close  to  the  coveted  water,  his  trumpets 
sounded  a  war  charge,  which  had  such  an  effect  upon  five  of  them 
that  they  abandoned  the  water,  and  gallopped  to  the  spot  where 
they  expected  to  meet  with  the  still  greater  excitement  of  war. 
These  five  were  therefore  selected  to  form  the  foundation  of  his 
stud,  and  from  them  it  is  supposed  that  the  race  called  "Kochlani" 
are  descended.  There  is  a  slight  similarity  bejtween  this  name  and 
that  of  the  second  in  the  list  enumerated  by  Ali  Bey.  and  perhaps 
his  "  Seclaoni"  may  be  identical  with  the  "  Kochlani"  of  previous 
writers.  It  is  asserted  by  Oriental  travellers  that  pedigrees  exist 
which  can  be  traced  five  hundred  years  back,  and  in  the  highest 
breeds  there  is  no  doubt  that  at  present  great  care  is  taken,  and 
many  ceremonies  performed  at  the  covering  of  the  mare.  After 
the  birth  of  the  foal,  a  certificate  is  always  duly  made  out  by  the 
local  authority,  and  this  must  be  done  within  seven  days  of  its 
being  dropped. 

ARABIA  is,  in  great  measure,  made  up  of  rocky  mountains  and 
sandy  deserts ;  but  in  Arabia  Felix  there  are  numerous  valleys  of 
remarkable  fertility ;  though  it  is  chiefly  on  the  limited  oasis  sur- 
rounding each  well  or  spring  of  water  that  the  Arab  horses  are 
dependent  for  their  food.  It  is  found  even  in  this  country  that  a 
very  luxuriant  herbage  does  not  suit  the  horse,  whose  frame  be- 


THE  MODERN  ARAB.  35 

comes  coarse  and  heavy  if  he  is  reared  upon  the  succulent  grasses 
of  rich  meadows,  and  therefore  it  is  probable  that  much  of  the 
wiryness  of  leg  and  lightness  of  frame  in  the  Arab  is  due  to  the 
sandy  soil  in  which  the  grasses  of  these  oases  take  their  roots. 
Besides  this,  the  dry  air  may  have  something  to  do  with  the  devel- 
opment of  muscle  and  tendon,  while  the  soft  sands  of  the  desert 
render  it  unnecessary  to  protect  the  feet  with  iron  shoes,  and  thus 
they  are  enabled  to  grow  into  the  form  which  nature  has  designed 
for  them  as  the  most  suitable  to  bear  the  superincumbent  weight. 


"CHABAN,"  AN  ARABIAN  STALLION. 

PURE  ARABS  are  considerably  smaller  than  our  modern  tho- 
rough-breds,  seldom  exceeding  14  hands  2  inches  in  height.  The 
head  is  remarkable  for  the  width  across  the  forehead,  which  is  also 
full  and  square,  while  the  muzzle  is  finer,  the  face  more  hollowed 
out,  and  the  jaws  more  fully  developed  in  their  proportions  than 
in  any  other  breed  with  which  we  are  acquainted.  The  eye  is  full 
and  soft,  yet  sparkling  with  animation  on  the  slightest  excitement; 
the  ear  is  small ;  the  neck  arched ;  the  shoulders  oblique,  but  mus- 
cular ;  the  withers  moderately  high  and  thin ;  the  chest  rather 
light  in  girth,  but  the  back  ribs  deep  in  proportion,  and  the  hips. 


36  THE  HORSE. 

though  narrow,  well  united  to  the  back  by  a  rounded  mass  of  pow- 
erful muscles.  The  croup  is  high,  and  the  taij^set  on  with  a  con- 
siderable arch.  -  The  bones  of  the  legs  are  large  in  proportion  to 
the  size,  and  the  tendons  full  and  free,  the  suspensory  ligaments 
being  particularly  strong  and  clean.  The  hocks  are  large  and  free 
both  from  curbs  and  spavins ;  and,  lastly,  the  feet,  though  small, 
are  soundj  and  capable  of  bearing  an  amount  of  battering  which 
few  well-bred  English  horses  can  sustain.  The  prefixed  engraving 
of  "  Chaban,"  an  Arabian  stallion,  shows  most  of  these  points 
extremely  well,  and  the  general  characteristics  of  the  breed  are 
particularly  well  indicated  by  the  artist,  who  took  the  sketch  from 
a  celebrated  Arabian  of  high  caste  in  the  stud  of  the  King  of 
Wurtemburg. 

FROM  THE  FULL  DEVELOPMENT  of  the  brain  in  this  breed  it 
might  be  expected  d  priori,  that  the  amount  of  intelligence  and 
courage  possessed  by  them  would  be  far  above  the  average ;  and 
such  is  the  result,  of  experience.  Most  of  them  are  extremely 
docile,  and  in  their  native  plains,  where  they  pass  their  lives  in 
constant  communion  with  their  masters,  they  are  possessed  of  tine 
tempers;  but  if  they  are  highly  fed,  and  at  the  same  time  deprived 
of  exercise  and  cruelly  treated,  their  nervous  system  is  so  sensitive 
that  they  rebel,  and  when  they  fight  they  persevere  to  the  death. 
A  vicious  Arabian  is,  therefore,  a  very  unmanageable  brute,  and 
difficult  to  cure  of  his  bad  propensities.  Good  treatment,  however, 
has  its  effect  upon  him,  and  when  he  once  shows  his  forgiveness  he 
may  be  depended  on  by  the  individual  that  he  takes  into  his  good 
graces.  This  trait  has  been  well  exemplified  in  the  savage  Arabian 
lately  tamed  by  Mr.  Rarey,  and  in  a  still  more  marked  manner  in 
former  years  in  the  case  of  Chillaby,  who  was,  if  possible,  more 
savage  than  Cruiser,  and  yet  was  so  completely  tamed  by  Hughes, 
the  celebrated  circus-horse  trainer,  that  he  was  able  to  exhibit  him 
as  a  trained  horse,  and  was  never  once  disappointed  by  him.  This 
is,  I  believe,  more  than  Mr.  Rarey  can  say  of  the  above  well-known 
Bavage  horse,  which  was  one  of  the  first  he  operated  on  in  this 
country. 

THE  FOOD  of  this  kind  of  horse  is  of  a  very  dry  though  nour- 
ishing nature,  and  neither  when  at  liberty  nor  when  tied  up  can 
he  get  much  water,  the  prevalent  opinion  being  that  an  unlimited 
supply  of  this  fluid  injures  his  shape,  and  interferes  with  his  wind. 
It  is  said  that  the  Arab  horse  is  only  fed  twice  a-day ;  but  I  con- 
clude that  this  only  refers  to  his  allowance  of  corn,  and  that  in 
the  intervals  he  is  permitted  to  pick  up  what  little  dry  herbage 
the  soil  affords.  Wonderful  stories  are  told  of  the  distances  which 
young  colts  are  compelled  to  go  when  first  mounted,  but  I  confess 
that  I  look  with  great  suspicion  upon  these  travellers'  tales.  About 
five  or  six  pounds  of  barley  or  beans,  or  a  mixture  of  the  two,  con* 


THE  MODERN  ARAB.  37 

stitute  the  daily  allowance  of  corn,  which  is  about  the  weight  of 
half  a  peck  of  good  oats,  and  would  be  considered  poor  feed  by 
our  English  horses,  unless  the  proportion  of  beans  is  very  large. 

THE  COLORS  of  the  Arabian  horses  are  mostly  bay,  chestnut, 
and  gray,  but  occasionally  black.  The  skin  itself  of  the  gray 
horses  is  of  a  deep  slate  color,  and  the  manes  and  tails  are  darker 
than  the  rest  of  the  body. 

THE  SPEED  of  the  Arabs,  which  have  recently  been  brought 
over  to  this  country,  is  undoubtedly  not  nearly  equal  to  that  of 
our  thorough-bred  horses  for  courses  of  moderate  length,  that  is, 
not  exceeding  two  miles ;  and  there  is  no  reason  to  believe  that  at 
longer  distances  there  would  be  an  essential  difference  in  the  result. 
In  the  Goodwood  Cup  an  allowance  is  made  them  of  a  stone,  yet 
no  Arab  has  ever  had  a  chance  of  winning,  and  as  far  as  this  test 
goes  they  are  proved  to  be  inferior  to  the  French  and  American 
horses.  In  India  a  difference  of  weight,  varying  from  1  stone  to 
1  stone  7  pounds,  is  made  in  favor  of  Arabs  as  against  imported 
English  horses,  "  in  order  to  bring  the  two  together"  in  racing 
parlance,  yet  even  then  few  Arabs  can  compete  with  the  second- 
rate  horses  which  are  imported  from  this  country.  Colonel  Bower 
tells  us  that  "  in  India  the  weights  range  from  7i  stone  to  10 
stone,  and  no  uncommon  timing  for  Arabs  is  2  minutes  and  54 
seconds  the  mile  and  a  half;  8  minutes  and  52  seconds  the  2 
miles — it  has  been  done  in  3  minutes  and  48  seconds,  and  the  Arab 
that  did  it  was  once  my  property,  and  his  name  was  the  Child  of 
the  Islands.  He  was  a  daisy-cutter,  and  yet  I  have  ridden  him 
over  the  roughest  ground,  and  never  detected  him  in  a  trip.  A 
pleasanter,  safer  hack  could  not  be,  and  a  fleeter  Arab  the  world 
never  saw.  He  stood  14  hands  2  inches,  bay  with  black  points, 
wiry  limbs,  very  muscular  all  over,  and  measured  7f  inches  round 
a  fore  leg  of  the  finest  bone  and  flattest  sinew."  This  time  is  as 
good  as  that  of  the  average  of  our  Derbys,  but  the  test  is  a  very 
fallacious  one,  and  unless  the  time  is  taken  over  the  same  course, 
and  that  in  the  same  running  condition,  no  comparison  can  pos- 
sibly be  drawn. 

Captain  Shakspear,  in  his  recently  published  work  on  the 
"  Wild  Sports  of  India,"  gives  the  following  most  minute  descrip- 
tion of  the  Arab,  as  he  is  now  met  with  in  India.  As  it  differs  in 
some  particulars  from  the  accounts  of  other  observers,  I  extract  it 
entire.  The  price  of  a  good  Arab,  he  says,  varies  from  150/.  to 
200£.,  and  there  is  plenty  of  choice  in  the  Bombay  and  Bengal 
markets. 

"  The  points  of  the  highest  caste  Arab  horse,  as  compared  with 
the  English  thorough-bred,  are  as  follow  :  the  head  is  more  beauti- 
fully formed,  and  more  intelligent;    the  forehead  broader;    the 
muzzle  finer;   the  eye  more  prominent,  more  sleepy-looking  in 
4 


38  THE  HORSE. 

repose,  more  brilliant  when  the  animal  is  excited.     The  ear  is 
more  beautifully  pricked,  and  of  exquisite  shape  and  sensitiveness. 
On  the  back  of  the  trained  hunter,  the  rider  scarcely  requires  to 
keep  his  eye  on  anything  but  the  ears  of  his  horse,  which  give 
indications  of  everything  that  his  ever-watchful  eye  catches  sight 
of.     The  nostril  is  not  always  so  open  in  a  state  of  rest,  and  indeed 
often  looks  thick  and  closed;  but  in  excitement,  and  when  the 
lungs  are  in  full  play  from  the  animal  being  at  speed,  it  expands 
greatly,  and  the  membrane  shows  scarlet  and  as  if  on  fire.     The 
game-cock  throttle — that  most  exquisite  formation  of  the  throat 
and  jaws  of  the  blood-horse — is  not  so  commonly  seen  in  the  Arab 
as  in  the  thorough-bred  English  racehorse ;  nor  is  the  head  quite 
so  lean.     The  jaws,  for  the  size  of  the  head,  are  perhaps  more 
apart,  giving  more  room  for  the  expansion  of  the  windpipe.     The 
point  where  the  head  is  put  on  to  the  neck  is  quite  as  delicate  as 
in  the  English  horse.     This  junction  has  much  more  to  do  with 
the  mouth  of  the  horse  than  most  people  are  aware  of,  and  on  it 
depends  the  pleasure  or  otherwise  of  the  rider.     The  bones,  from 
the  eye  down  towards  the  lower  part  of  the  head,  should  not  be 
too  concave,  or  of  a  deer's  form ;  for  this  in  the  Arab  as  in  the 
English  horse  denotes  a  violent  temper,  though  it  is  very  beautiful 
to  look  at.     Proceeding  to  the  neck,  we  notice  that  the  Arab  stal- 
lion has  rarely  the  crest  that  an  English  stallion  has.     He  has  a 
strong,  light,  and  muscular  neck,  a  little  short,  perhaps,  compared 
to  the  other,  and  thick.     In  the  pure  breeds,  the  neck  runs  into 
the  shoulders  very  gradually;  and  generally,  if  the  horse  has  a 
pretty  good  crest,  comes  down   rather    perpendicularly  into   the 
shoulders ;  but  often,  if  he  is  a  little  ewe-necked,  which  is  not 
uncommon  with  the  Arab,  it  runs  in  too  straight,  and  low  down 
in  the  shoulders.     The  Arab,  however,  rarely  carries  his  head, 
when  he  is  being  ridden,  so  high  in  proportion  as  the  English. 
He  is  not  so  well  topped,  which  I  attribute  to  the  different  way  he 
is  reared,  and  to  his  not  being  broken  in  regularly,  like  the  Eng- 
lish horse,  before  he  is  put  to  work.     His  shoulders  are  not  so  flat 
and  thin,  and  he  is  thicker  through  in  these  parts  generally  for 
his  size  than  the  English  thorough-bred  horse.     His  girth  does 
not  show  so  deep,  that  is,  he  does  not  look  so  deep  over  the  heart; 
but  between  the  knees  and  behind  the  saddle,  where  the  English 
horse  very  often  falls  off,  the  Arab  is  barrel-ribbed;  and  this  gives 
him  his  wonderful  endurance  and  his  great  constitutional  points. 
This  also  prevents  him  from  getting  knocked  up  in  severe  training 
or  under  short  allowance  of  food,  and  in  long  marches.     His  chest 
is  quite  broad  enough  and  deep  enough  for  either  strength  or 
bottom.     The  scapula,  or  shoulder-blade,  is  both  in  length  and 
backward  inclination,  compared  to  the  huuierus,  or  upper  bone  of 
the  arm,  quite  as  fine  in  the  high-caste  Arab  as  in  the  English 


THE  MODERN  ARAB.  39 

horse ;  while  both  bones  are  generally  better  furnished  with  mus- 
cles, better  developed,  and  feel  firmer  to  the  hand.  But  some  of 
the  very  fastest  Arabs  have  their  fore  legs  very  much  under  them ; 
indeed,  so  much  that  no  judge  would  buy  an  English  horse  so 
made.  Yet,  whether  it  be  that  this  form  admits  of  the  joints 
between  these  bones  becoming  more  opened,  when  the  horse 
extends  himself,  or  whatever  be  the  cause,  it  is  a  fact  that  blood- 
horses  thus  made  are  almost  always  fast  horses.  The  upper  part 
of  their  shoulder-blade  seems  to  run  back  under  the  front  part  of 
the  saddle,  when  they  are  going  their  best.  This  formation  is 
most  common  in  the  lower-sized  Arab,  and  apparently  makes  up 
to  him  for  his  deficiency  in  height.  The  very  finest-actioned 
Arabs  have  had  this  peculiarity  of  form.  They  are  rather  apt 
to  become  chafed  at  the  elbow-points  by  the  girths,  and  almost 
require  to  have  saddles  made  on  purpose  for  them.  The  elbow- 
point,  that  essential  bone,  which  for  the  sake  of  leverage  should 
be  prominent,  is  fine  in  the  Arab,  and  generally  plays  clear  of  the 
body.  The  fore-arm  is  strong  and  muscular,  and  is  pretty  long ; 
the  knee  square,  with  a  good  speedy  cut  for  the  size  of  the  animal, 
equal  to  the  English  horse;  while  below  the  knee  the  Arab  shines 
very  conspicuously,  having  a  degree  of  power  there,  both  in  the 
suspensory  ligaments  and  flexor  tendons,  far  superior,  in  proportion 
to  his  size,  to  the  English  horse.  These  are  distinct  and  away 
from  the  shank-bone ;  they  give  a  very  deep  leg,  and  act  mechani- 
cally to  great  advantage.  The  bone  looks  small,  but  then  it  is 
very  dense,  the  hollow  which  contains  the  marrow  being  very 
small,  and  the  material  solid,  more  like  ivory  than  bone,  heavy, 
and  close-grained.  The  flexor  tendons  are  nearly  as  large  and  as 
thick  as  the  canna  bone.  The  pasterns  and  their  joints  are  quite 
in  keeping  with  the  bones  above  them,  and  are  not  so  long,  straight, 
and  weak  as  those  of  the  English  horse.  The  feet  are  generally 
in  the  same  proportion  :  but  the  Arabs  themselves  appear  to  be 
very  careless  in  their  treatment  of  them.  The  body  or  centre  piece 
of  the  Arab  horse  has  rarely  too  great  length.  This  is  a  very 
uncommon  fault  in  the  pure  breed;  and  there  is  no  breed  of  horses 
that  are  more  even  in  this  respect  than  the  Arab.  Behind  this, 
we  come  to  a  great  peculiarity  in  the  breed — his  croup.  I  might 
say  an  Arab  horse  is  known  by  it :  he  is  so  much  more  beautifully 
made  in  his  hind  quarters,  and  in  the  way  his  tail  is  put  on,  than 
most  other  breeds.  His  loins  are  good ;  he  is  well  coupled ;  his 
quarters  are  powerful,  and  his  tail  carried  high ;  and  this  even  in 
castes  that  have  very  little  more  than  a  high-bred  stallion  to  recom- 
mend them.  The  straight-dropped  hind  leg  is  always  a  recom- 
mendation, and  almost  all  racing  Arabs  have  it;  and  this,  when 
extended,  brings  the  hind  foot  under  the  stirrup,  and  the  pro- 
pellers being  of  this  shape  give  a  vast  stride,  without  fear  of  over- 


40  THE  HORSE. 

reach.  The  thighs  and  hocks  are  good;  the  latter  very  rarely 
know  either  kind  of  spavin  or  curbs.  The  points  and  processes 
are  pre-eminently  well  adapted  for  the  attachment  of  the  muscles  ; 
while  the  flexor  tendons  of  the  hind  legs  generally  correspond  with 
those  of  the  fore.  The  hocks  are  not  so  much  let  down,  nor  the 
hind  legs  so  greyhound-like,  as  in  the  thorough-bred  English  horse. 
In  stride,  too,  he  is  somewhat  different,  inasmuch  as  it  is  a  rounder 
way  of  going,  and  is  not  so  extended  or  so  near  the  ground,  but  is 
more  like  a  bound.  However,  there  are  exceptions  ;  and  I  have 
bred  pure  Arabs  whose  stride,  for  their  size,  was  very  extended, 
and  quite  like  that  of  English  racehorses." 

THE  MARE  is  commonly  supposed  to  be  more  highly  prized  by 
the  Arabs  than  the  stallion ;  but  this  idea  is  said  to  be  unfounded 
by  the  celebrated  Abd  el  Kader,  in  a  highly  interesting  letter  to 
General  Daumas,  which  is  published  in  the  fifth  number  of  Haily's 
Magazine  of  Sports.  He  remarks  : 

"  It  is  true  that  the  foal  proceeds  from  the  sire  and  from  the 
dam,  but  the  experience  of  ages  has  proved  that  the  essential  parts 
of  the  body — such  as  the  bones,  the  tendons,  the  nerves,  and  the 
veins — proceed  always  from  the  sire.  This  is  beyond  all  doubt. 
The  meanest  Arab  knows  now  that  any  malady  specially  belonging 
to  the  bones,  under  which  the  sire  may  be  suffering  at  the  time  of 
covering,  will  be  perpetuated  in  his  produce,  such  as  splints,  bone 
and  blood  spavins,  the  shape  of  the  bones,  and  all  diseases  of  the 
vertebral  column.  The  dam  may  give  to  her  produce  color,  and  a 
certain  amount  of  resemblance  in  form,  the  foal  naturally  partak- 
ing of  some  of  the  qualities  of  the  animal  which  had  so  long 
borne  it;  but  it  is  an  incontestable  fact,  that  it  is  the  sire  who  gives 
strength  to  the  bones,  substance  to  the  tendons,  vigor  to  the  nerves, 
rapidity  of  pace,  in  short,  all  the  principal  qualities.  He  also 
communicates  what  may  be  called  moral  qualities,  and  if  he  be 
unquestionably  of  high  blood  the  foal  is  preserved  from  vice.  Our 
fathers  have  said,  El  aond  por  ma  audouche  Mela — 'A  horse  of 
noble  race  has  no  vices/  An  Arab  will  lend  his  stud  horse  gra- 
tuitously ;  he  never  accepts  payment  for  his  services.  To  hire  out 
a  stud  horse  for  money  is,  in  the  eyes  of  an  Arab,  an  unworthy 
action,  and  is  contrary  to  the  generosity  for  which  he  is  renowned, 
and  although  the  law  allows  it,  I  have  never  known  an  instance  of 
it.  But  though  the  Arab  lends  his  stud  horse  gratuitously,  he 
does  not  do  so  to  the  first  comer,  nor  for  any  mare.  No;  the  sup- 
pliant is  often  obliged  to  make  use  of  the  intercession  of  persons 
of  great  interest,  or  even  of  his  wives,  if  he  would  not  see  his  re- 
quest refused.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Arabs  are  very  diincult  in 
their  choice  of  a  stud  horse,  and  if  they  cannot  find  one  of  pure 
blood,  they  prefer  leaving  their  mares  unproductive  rather  than 
put  them  to  a  common  horse.  To  procure  a  good  sire  they  do  not 


THE  PERSIAN  HORSE.  41 

hesitate  to  travel  any  distance.  The  preceding  has  already  inti- 
mated to  you  my  conclusion,  that  the  sire  has-  more  to  do  with  the 
foal  than  the  dam.  And  my  conclusion  is  identical  with  the  uni- 
versal opinion  of  the  Arabs.  They  say,  El  hor  ilebal  el  fahal — 
<  The  foal  follows  the  sire/  " 

In  corroboration  of  this  opinion,  he  describes  the  Arab  horses 
as  distinguished  under  the  following  heads  : — "  El  Horr,  El  Had- 
jim.  El  Mekueref,  and  El  Berdoune.  El  Horr  is  that  in  which 
sire  and  dam  are  both  of  noble  race;  that  takes  the  lead.  El 
Iladjim  is  that  in  which  the  sire  is  noble  and  the  dam  of  common 
race ;  it  is  considered  less  than  El  Horr,  its  name  Hadjim,  i  defec- 
tive/ being  derived  from  the  word  '  HurdjissJ  which  signifies 
faulty.  El  Mekueref  is  that  in  which  the  dam  is  high  bred  and 
the  sire  is  half  bred ;  although  this  approaches  the  ffadjim,  it  is 
of  much  less  value.  The  name  of  this  class  is  derived  from  '  haraf,' 
mixed.  El  Hadjim  is  superior  in  quality  on  the  same  principle 
that  a  man  whose  father  is  white  and  whose  mother  is  a  negress  is 
superior  to  him  whose  mother  is  white  and  whose  father  is  a  negro. 
El  Berdoune  is  that  class  in  which  both  sire  and  dam  are  badly 
bred.  This  animal  is  a  stranger  to  our  country.  The  value  of  a 
horse  is  in  its  breeding." 

THE  PEKSIAN  HORSE. 

SIR  JOHN  MALCOLM  and  Sir  Robert  Ker  Porter,  both  of  whom 
resided  many  years  in  Persia,  are  the  chief  authorities  on  this 
subject.  The  former  says  : — "  A  variety  of  horses  are  produced 
in  Persia.  The  inhabitants  of  the  districts  which  border  on  the 
Gulf  still  preserve  here  those  races  of  animals  which  their  ances- 
tors brought  from  the  opposite  shore  of  Arabia.  In  Fars  and  Irak 
they  have  a  mixed  breed  from  the  Arabian,  which  though  stronger 
is  still  a  small  horse  compared  with  either  the  Toorkoman  or  Kho- 
rassan  breed,  which  are  most  prized  by  the  soldiers  of  Persia. 
Both  these  latter  races  have  also  a  great  proportion  of  Arabian 
blood."  Sir  Robert  thus  alludes  to  them  : — "  The  Persian  horses 
never  exceed  fourteen  or  fourteen  and  a  half  hands  high;  yet 
certainly  on  the  whole  they  are  taller  than  Arabs.  Those  of  the 
Desert  and  country  about  Hillah  seem  very  small,  but  are  full  of 
bone,  and  of  good  speed.  General  custom  feeds  and  waters  them 
only  at  sunrise  and  sunset,  when  they  are  cleaned.  Their  usual 
provender  is  barley  and  chopped  straw,  which,  if  the  animals  are 
picketed,  is  put  into  a  nosebag  and  hung  from  their  heads ;  but  if 
stabled,  it  is  thrown  into  a  lozenge-shaped  hole,  left  in  the  thick- 
ness of  the  mud  wall  for  that  purpose,  but  much  higher  up  than 
the  line  of  our  mangers,  and  then  the  animal  eats  at  his  leisure. 
Hay  is  a  kind  of  food  not  known  here.  The  bedding  of  the  horse 
consists  of  his  dung.  After  being  exposed  to  the  drying  influence 
4* 


42  THE  HORSE. 

of  the  sun  during  the  day,  it  becomes  pulverized,  and  in  that  state 
is  nightly  spread  under  him.  Little  of  it  touches  his  body,  that 
being  covered  by  his  clothing,  a  large  nurnmud  from  the  head  to 
the  tail,  and  bound  firmly  round  his  body  by  a  very  long  surcingle. 
But  this  apparel  is  only  for  cold  weather ;  in  the  warmer  season 
the  night-clothes  are  of  a  lighter  substance,  and  during  the  heat 
of  the  day  the  animal  is  kept  entirely  under  shade.  At  night  he 
is  tied  in  the  court-yard.  The  horses'  heads  are  attached  to  the 
place  of  security  by  double  ropes  from  their  halters,  and  the  heels 
of  their  hinder  legs  are  confined  by  cords  of  twisted  hair,  fastened 
to  iron  rings  and  pegs  driven  into  the  earth.  The  same  custom 
prevailed  in  the  time  of  Xenophon,  and  for  the  same  reason,  to 
secure  them  from  being  able  to  attack  and  maim  each  other,  the 
whole  stud  generally  consisting  of  stallions.  Their  keepers,  how- 
ever, always  sleep  in  their  rugs  amongst  them  to  prevent  accidents, 
and  sometimes  notwithstanding  all  their  care  they  manage  to  break 
loose,  and  then  the  combat  ensues.  A  general  neighing,  screaming, 
kicking,  and  snorting  soon  raise  the  groom,  and  the  scene  for  a 
while  is  terrible.  Indeed  no  one  can  conceive  the  sudden  uproar 
of  such  a  moment  who  has  not  been  in  Eastern  countries  to  hear 
it,  and  then  all  who  have  must  bear  me  witness  that  the  noise  is 
tremendous.  They  seize,  bite,  and  kick  each  other  with  the  most 
determined  fury,  and  frequently  cannot  be  separated  before  their 
heads  and  haunches  stream  with  blood." 

THE  TURKISH  HORSE. 

THIS  VARIETY  seems  to  be  merely  the  Arab  developed  by  higher 
food  into  a  larger  size  and  more  massive  proportions.  The  horses 
of  Constantinople  are  often  sixteen  hands  in  height,  with  very 
elegant  proportions  and  a  crupper  more  highly  developed  than  that 
of  the  Arab.  They  are  said  to  be  extremely  docile,  and  the  two 
specimens  which  I  have  seen  imported  into  this  country  certainly 
bore  out  this  character,  both  of  them,  though  stallions,  being  as 
quiet  as  any  English  geldings.  They  had  very  high  crests  and 
arched  necks ;  and  this  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  characteristics  of 
the  breed.  In  the  records  of  the  turf  in  this  country,  many  of 
the  most  celebrated  sires  are  mentioned  as  Turks;  but  though 
imported  from  Turkey,  it  is  very  probable  that  some  of  these  were 
genuine  Arabs. 

OTHER  ASIATIC  HORSES. 

THE  HORSES  OF  TOORKISTAN  are  described  by  Sir  R.  K.  Porter 
as  scanty  in  barrel,  long  in  the  leg,  with  ewe  necks  and  large  heads. 
When  crossed  with  those  of  Persia,  they,  however,  are  said  by  him 
to  produce  a  most  magnificent  animal,  all  elegance  and  elasticity, 
and  of  a  stronger  form  and  somewhat  larger  size  than  the  best 


OTHER  ASIATIC  HORSES.  43 

Arabians.  Sir  Alexander  Burns  attributes  to  them,  on  the  other 
hand,  a  very  high  crest,  and  large  and  bony  though  somewhat 
long  bodies.  He  says,  also,  that  in  Bokhara  there  is  a  breed  of 
Kuzzak  horses,  sturdy  and  small,  with  shaggy  coats  and  very  long 
manes  and  tails,  much  and  deservedly  admired. 

THE  TARTAR  HORSES  are  small  and  narrow,  with  long  necks, 
weak  legs,  large  heads,  and  light  middles.  Nevertheless  they  are 
described  as  fast  and  untiring,  and  of  the  most  hardy  nature,  so 
that  they  can  support  themselves  on  a  quantity  and  quality  of  food 
upon  which  even  our  donkeys  would  starve. 

IN  VARIOUS  PARTS  OF  TARTARY  horses  are  found  in  a  wild 
state,  and  present  a  rough  inelegant  form  not  unlike  that  of  our 
New  Forest  ponies.  In  them  the  characteristics  of  the  domesti- 
cated Tartar  horse  already  described  are  exhibited  in  a  marked 
manner,  and  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  two  breeds 
are  identical,  and  that  the  ranks  of  the  latter  are  recruited  from 
the  enormous  herds  of  wild  horses  which  are  found  in  countless 
thousands  on  the  edges  of  the  vast  deserts  of  the  country.  They 
are  generally  of  a  red  color,  with  a  black  stripe  along  the  back, 
and  manes  and  tails  of  the  latter  color,  but  almost  always  reddish 
at  the  roots  of  the  dock  and  edges  of  the  mane.  The  Tartars  eat 
the  flesh  both  of  the  wild  and  domesticated  horse,  and  are  said  to 
cook  the  meat  under  their  saddles.  They  also  manufacture  a  drink 
called  koumiss  from  the  milk  obtained  from  the  mare,  which  is 
fermented  and  distilled  into  an  intoxicating  beverage. 

IN  so  VAST  A  COUNTRY  AS  INDIA,  it  might  be  expected  that 
numerous  breeds  of  horses  would  be  found,  varying  almost  as  much 
as  the  climates  and  soils  of  Bengal  and  Cabool.  In  the  immediate 
neighborhood  of  the  three  presidencies  imported  and  country-bred 
Arab,  as  well  as  Persian  and  Turkoonian  horses,  are  common 
enough,  as  also  are  importations  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
Australia,  and  Van  Dieman's  Land.  English  horses  are  not  nearly 
so  numerous,  the  expense  and  risk  of  the  voyage  deterring  most 
people  from  the  speculation,  the  doubtful  nature  of  which  may  be 
estimated  from  the  fact  that  the  insurance  is  twenty-four  to  twenty- 
five  per  cent.,  and  this  only  insures  the  landing  of  the  animal  alive; 
for  if  it  is  so  wasted  and  worn  as  to  die  an  hour  afterwards,  the  pol- 
icy is  of  no  value  to  the  insured.  Williamson,  in  his  Wild  Sports 
of  the  East,  describes  the  native  Bengal  breeds  in  the  following 
terms : — "  They  have  generally  Roman  noses,  and  sharp,  narrow 
foreheads,  much  white  in  their  eyes,  ill-shaped  ears,  square  heads, 
thin  necks,  narrow  chests,  shallow  girths,  lank  bellies,  cat  hams, 
goose  rumps,  and  switch  tails  !  Some  occasionally  may  be  found 
in  every  respect  well  shaped.  They  are  hardy  and  fleet,  but  inca- 
pable of  carrying  great  weights.  Their  vice  is  proverbial;  yet 
until  they  arrive  at  four  or  five  years  they  are  often  very  docile 


44  THE  HORSE. 

and  gentle ;  after  that  period  they,  for  the  most  part,  are  given  to 
rearing,  kicking,  biting,  and  a  thousand  equally  disagreeable 
habits."  Other  writers  have  defined  the  several  breeds  found 
throughout  the  southern  parts  of  India,  and  named  them  also,  as 
Toorky,  Cozakee,  Tazsee,  &c. ;  but  I  understand  from  good  author- 
ity that  there  are  really  no  such  breeds  in  existence  now,  and 
probably  they  were  only  called  into  being  by  the  active  imagina- 
tions of  inventive  writers.  Large  breeding  studs  were  kept  by 
some  of  the  native  princes,  but  these  were  mainly  dependent  upon 
imported  Arabs  and  Persians,  and  could  claim  no  peculiar  strain 
as  their  own.  The  same  mixture  of  blood  prevails  in  the  present 
day,  with  the  exception  of  the  horses  in  the  northern  provinces. 

THE  BIRMAN  HORSE  is  very  small,  being  seldom  higher  than 
thirteen  hands,  and  it  is  said  that  some  specimens  are  less  than 
eleven.  The  same  remark  applies  also  to  those  of  CHINA,  SIAM, 
and  JAVA. 

THE  AUSTKALIAN  HOKSE. 

THE  IRISHMAN'S  FIFTH  QUARTER  OF  THE  WORLD  is  now 
abundantly  supplied  with  horses  of  the  first  class,  in  size,  speed, 
and  stoutness,  though  little  more  than  half  a  century  ago  the  ani- 
mal was  altogether  unknown  there.  At  first,  from  the  proximity 
of  India  and  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  the  horses  of  these  colonies, 
and  those  of  inferior  value  only,  were  imported  into  the  new  settle- 
ment;  but  about  the  year  1835  great  efforts  were  made  by  several 
enterprising  settlers,  both  in  the  Island  of  Van  Dieman  and  also 
on  the  continent  of  Australia,  and  several  horses  of  good  breeding 
were  imported  from  this  country,  especially  by  Mr.  Wilmore  in 
the  former  island.  It  was  soon  found  that  the  climate  is  admirably 
suited  to  this  animal,  and  there  are  now  colonial-bred  horses, 
adapted  for  the  turf  and  the  road,  as  well  as  for  agricultural  pur- 
poses, superior  in  soundness  and  probably  in  stoutness,  even  if 
they  are  deficient  in  face,  as  compared  with  the  British  thorough- 
bred. As  far  as  I  know,  no  Australian  horse  has  been  imported 
into  England,  so  that  we  have  no  means  of  comparing  the  two  on 
terms  advantageous  to  the  mother  country ;  nor  possibly  can  we 
altogether  depend  upon  the  glowing  accounts  which  are  furnished 
us  of  the  appearance  and  performances  of  our  Antipodean  rivals. 
Still  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  as  the  soil  and  climate  are  ad- 
mitted to  improve  the  appearance  of  the  imported  horses,  as  indeed 
they  do  all  our  domestic  animals,  and  as  disease  of  all  kinds  is 
extremely  rare,  so  it  will  be  found  that  in  all  good  qualities  the 
Australian  horse  is  at  least  on  a  par  with  our  own.  Their  breeders 
are  so  spirited  and  determined  that  neither  money  nor  trouble  is 
spared  in  procuring  the  best  blood,  an  evidence  of  which  is  afforded 
by  the  fact  that  at  the  recent  sale  of  Lord  Londesborough's  stud, 
the  large  sum  of  3120  guineas  (about  $15,000)  was  invested  for 


THE  SOUTH  AMERICAN  HORSE.  45 

Australia.  This,  probably,  is  the  heaviest  price  yet  paid  at  one 
sale  by  any  colonial  breeder,  but  numerous  smaller  speculations 
have  been  going  on  for  the  last  twenty  years.  Hence,  whatever 
position  is  attained  by  our  friends  over  the  water,  they  will  en- 
tirely owe  to  the  parent  country;  and  I  strongly  suspect  that 
before  long  we  shall  have  to  go  to  them  to  procure  sound  horses 
of  high  breeding  for  our  own  studs. 


CHAPTER    IV. 
THE    HORSES    OP    THE    WESTERN    HEMISPHERE. 

The  South  American  Horse —  The  Mustang —  The  Indian  Pony — 
The  Canadian  Horse — The  Morgan  Horse — The  American 
Trotter —  The  Narraganset  Pacer —  The  American  Thorough- 
bred—  The  Vermont  Cart-Horse —  The  Conestoga  Draught- 
Horse. 

THE    SOUTH  AMERICAN  HORSE. 
FOR    SOME  TIME    AFTER    THE    DISCOVERY  OF    AMERICA,  at  the 

conclusion  of  the  fifteenth  century,  the  horse  was  entirely  unknown 
in  that  hemisphere,  but  according  to  Azara  a  few  specimens  were 
introduced  there  by  the  Spaniards  in  the  year  1535,  and  in  the 
year  1537  several  were  shipped  to  Paraguay.  From  these  have 
been  bred  the  countless  herds  which  have  since  spread  over  the 
whole  southern  part  of  the  western  world,  and  passing  the  Isthmus 
of  Panama  have  wandered  into  North  America.  In  both  these 
divisions  the  horse  runs  wild,  wherever  there  are  plains  suitable  to 
him,  and  not  yet  brought  under  cultivation  •  but  it  is  in  the  south 
that  the  wild  horse  is  to  be  found  in  the  greatest  numbers,  on  the 
extensive,  plains  which  stretch  almost  unbroken  from  the  shores  of 
La  Plata  to  Patagonia.  Here  herds  numbering  some  thousands  in 
each  are  to  be  met  with,  each  under  the  guidance  of  a  master  stal- 
lion, who  enforces  entire  submission  to  his  will  as  long  as  he  has 
the  power  to  do  so.  Here  the  native  Graucho  has  only  to  throw 
his  lasso,  and  he  can  at  any  time  supply  himself  with  a  horse  which 
will  carry  him  for  miles  at  a  hand  gallop,  when  he  changes  him 
for  another,  and  is  thus  always  mounted  at  a  cheap  and  easy  rate. 
In  this  way  Captain  Head  rode  all  across  the  continent  from  one 
shore  to  the  other,  nearly  using  up  one  horse  in  the  course  of  fifty 
or  sixty  miles,  and  then  looking  out  for  another  before  the  first 
was  so  spent  as  to  be  unable  to  assist  him  in  making  the  exchange. 
These  wild  horses  greatly  resemble  their  Spanish  ancestors  in  make 
and  shape.  They  are  said  to  be  possessed  of  a  fair  amount  of 


46  THE  HORSE. 

speed,  but  not  above  the  average  of  foreign  breeds.  They  are, 
however,  from  their  roving  habits,  in  excellent  wind,  and  it  is  said 
that  a  Gaucho  has  been  known  to  ride  one  fresh  caught  nearly  a 
hundred  miles  without  drawing  bit. 

THE  MUSTANG,  OR  WILD  HORSE  OF   NORTH   AMERICA. 

LIKE  THE  WILD  HORSES  OF  SOUTH  AMERICA,  those  of  Mexico 
and  California  are  in  all  probability  descended  from  Spanish  blood, 
and  indeed  it  is  impossible  now  to  discover,  with  anything  like 
certainty,  the  source  of  the  Indian  Ponies,  large  herds  of  which 
run  wild  in  the  northern  and  north-western  parts  of  this  extensive 
continent.  So  little  do  the  Americans  now  know  or  care  about 
these  wild  horses,  that  the  late  Mr.  Herbert,  who  has  treated  of 
the  American  Horse  in  two  vols.  quarto,  omits  all  mention  of  them, 
excepting  the  most  cursory  allusion  to  the  Mustang  as  the  origin 
of  the  Indian  Pony,  in  common  with  the  Canadian  horse.  I  shall, 
therefore,  not  weary  my  readers  with  extracts  from  Mr.  Catlin's 
somewhat  fanciful  writings,  but  at  once  proceed  to  allude  to  the 
modern  domesticated  breeds  of  horses  met  with  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada. 

ACCORDING  TO  MR.  HERBERT,  who  seems  to  have  taken  great 
pains  to  arrive  at  the  truth,  "  with  the  one  solitary  exception  of 
the  Norman  horse  in  Canada,  no  special  breeds  have  ever  taken 
root  as  such,  or  been  bred,  or  even  attempted  to  be  bred,  in  them 
purity,  in  any  part  of  America.  In  Canada  East  the  Norman 
horse,  imported  by  the  early  settlers,  was  bred  for  many  generations 
entirely  unmixed;  and,  as  the  general  agricultural  horse  of  the 
province,  exists,  yet  so  stunted  in  size  by  the  cold  climate  and  the 
rough  usage  to  which  he  has  been  subjected  for  centuries,  but  in 
no  wise  degenerated,  for  he  possesses  all  the  honesty,  courage,  en- 
durance, hardihood,  soundness  of  constitution,  and  characteristic 
excellence  of  feet  and  legs  of  his  progenitor."  Besides  this  native 
Canadian  there  are  also,  among  the  more  active  kinds,  the  Morgan 
horse,  the  American  trotter,  the  Narraganset  pacer,  and  the  tho- 
rough-bred descended  from  English  imported  horses,  with  scarcely 
any  admixture  of  native  blood ;  and  of  the  agricultural  varieties, 
the  Vermont  and  Conestoga  draught-horses,  in  addition  to  several 
others  not  so  easily  made  out. 

THE  INDIAN  PONY. 

THE  INDIAN  PONY,  which  seldom  or  never  exceeds  thirteen 
hands  in  height,  is  remarkable  for  activity  and  strength,  as  com- 
pared with  its  size,  appearing,  like  its  Scotch  congener,  to  be  almost 
overwhelmed  with  its  rider,  whose  feet  nearly  touch  the  ground, 
yet  moving  under  its  load  with  freedom.  It  has  a  high  crest, 
and  a  flowing  mane  and  tail,  with  a  proud  carriage  of  the  head  of 


THE  CANADIAN  HORSE. 


47 


a  very  pleasing  character.  The  body  is  strongly  built,  and  the  legs 
and  feet  are  made  of  the  most  lasting  materials.  Large  herds  of 
these  ponies  run  wild  in  the  prairies  of  the  north-west,  and  many 
are  brought  into  Canada  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants. 


THE  CANADIAN  HORSE. 


THE  CANADIAN  HORSE. 

THE  CANADIAN  HORSE  is  generally  about  fourteen  to  fifteen 
hands  high,  and  is  a  remarkably  hardy  animal,  capable  of  travelling 
very  long  distances,  but  in  his  pure  condition  not  above  the  average 
in  speed.  When  crossed,  however,  with  a  thorough-bred  horse,  he 
combines  the  speed  of  the  latter  with  his  own  endurance  and  iron 
constitution  and  legs,  and  in  this  way  a  great  many  of  the  best 
American  trotters  are  bred.  Mr.  Herbert  says,  "  His  crest  is  lofty, 
and  his  demeanor  proud  and  courageous;  his  breast  is  full  and 
broad ;  his  shoulders  strong,  though  somewhat  straight,  and  a  little 
inclined  to  be  heavy ;  his  back  broad,  and  his  croup  round,  fleshy, 
and  muscular  j  his  ribs  are  not,  however,  so  much  arched,  nor  are 
they  so  well  closed  up,  as  his  general  shape  and  build  would  lead 


48  THE  HORSE. 

one  to  expect ;  his  legs  and  feet  are  admirable — the  bone  large  and 
flat,  and  the  sinews  big  and  nervous  as  steel  springs ;  his  feet  seem 
almost  unconscious  of  disease ;  his  fetlocks  are  shaggy ;  his  mane 
voluminous  and  massive,  not  seldom,  if  untrained,  falling  on  both 
sides  of  his  neck,  and  his  tail  abundant,  both  having  a  peculiar 
crimpled  wave,  if  I  may  so  express  myself,  the  like  of  which  I 
never  saw  in  any  horse  which  had  not  some  strain  of  his  blood."  I 
give  a  sketch  on  the  preceding  page  of  one  of  these  horses,  showing 
the  shape  and  action  peculiar  to  them.  It  is  said  by  good  judges 
to  be  an  excellent  likeness. 

THE  MORGAN  HORSE. 

THE  MORGAN  HORSE  has  recently  been  paraded  in  America  as 
a  distinct  strain,  kept  pure  in  its  own  district  for  more  than  half  a 
century,  and  descended  from  a  single  horse,  in  the  possession  of 
Mr.  Justin  Morgan,  a  schoolmaster  in  Vermont.  In  the  present 
day  the  "  Morgans"  are  so  much  sought  after  that  in  the  year  1856 
the  Agricultural  Society  of  Vermont  offered  a  prize  for  the  best 
essay  on  the  subject,  which  was  awarded  to  Mr.  Linsley,  an  inha- 
bitant of  the  same  state.  According  to  this  authority,  the  founder 
of  the  family,  or  strain,  was  got  by  a  horse  called  "  True  Briton/' 
which  was  said  to  have  been  stolen,  and  whose  pedigree  is  there- 
fore doubtful.  Mr.  Linsley  endeavors  to  prove,  however,  that  he 
was  a  son  of  the  English  thorough-bred  horse  Traveller,  which  he 
assumes  to  be  identical  with  the  son  of  Partner,  known  as  Morton's 
Old  Traveller,  giving  as  his  authority  a  pedigree  inserted  in  the 
Albany  "  Cultivator"  of  1846.  The  same  authority  is  also  ad- 
duced to  prove  that  the  dam  of  True  Briton  and  also  of  Justin 
Morgan's  horse  were  of  nearly  pure  English  blood,  and  that  the 
latter  was  descended  from  the  famous  "  Cub"  mare ;  but  the  facts 
adduced  seem  of  the  most  doubtful  nature,  and  I  believe  that  the 
Morgan  horse  would  in  this  country  be  considered  as  undoubtedly 
half-bred. 

Mr.  Linsley  describes  the  founder  of  the  Morgan  strain  in  the 
following  terms : — He  "  was  about  fourteen  hands  high,  and  weighed 
about  nine  hundred  and  fifty  pounds.  His  color  was  dark  bay, 
with  black  legs,  mane,  and  tail.  He  had  no  white  hair  upon  him. 
His  mane  and  tail  were  coarse  and  heavy,  but  not  so  massive  as 
has  been  sometimes  described ;  the  hair  of  both  was  straight,  and 
not  inclined  to  curl.  His  head  was  good,  not  extremely  small,  but 
lean  and  bony,  the  face  straight,  forehead  broad,  ears  small,  and 
very  fine,  but  set  rather  wide  apart.  His  eyes  were  medium  size, 
very  dark,  and  prominent,  and  showed  no  white  round  the  edge  of 
the  lid"  (Qy.  iris?).  "  His  nostrils  were  very  large,  the  muzzle 
small,  and  the  lips  close  and  firm.  His  back  and  legs  were  per- 
haps his  most  noticeable  points.  The  former  was  very  short,  the 


THE  MORGAN  HORSE.  49 

shoulder-blades  and  thigh-bones  being  very  long  and  oblique,  and 
the  loins  exceedingly  broad  and  muscular.  His  body  was  rathe** 
long,  round,  and  deep,  close  ribbed  up ;  chest  deep  and  wide,  with 
the  breast-bone  projecting  a  good  deal  in  front.  His  legs  were 
short,  close  jointed,  thin,  but  very  wide,  hard  and  free  from  meat, 
with  muscles  that  were  remarkably  large  for  a  horse  of  his  size, 
and  this  superabundance  of  muscle  manifested  itself  at  every  step. 
His  hair  was  short,  and  at  almost  all  seasons  soft  and  glossy.  He 
had  a  little  long  hair  about  the  fetlocks,  and  for  two  or  three  inches 
above  the  fetlock  on  the  back  side  of  the  legs;  the  rest  of  his 
limbs  were  entirely  free  from  it.  His  feet  were  small,  but  well 
shaped,  and  he  was  in  every  respect  perfectly  sound  and  free  from 
blemish.  He  was  a  very  fast  walker.  In  trotting  his  gait  was 
slow  and  smooth,  and  his  step  short  and  nervous;  he  was  not  what 
in  these  days  would  be  called  fast,  and  we  think  it  doubtful  whether 
he  could  trot  a  mile  much,  if  any,  within  four  minutes,  though  it 
is  claimed  by  many  that  he  could  trot  it  in  three.  Although  he 
raised  his  feet  but  little,  he  never  stumbled.  His  proud,  bold,  and 
fearless  style  of  movement,  and  his  vigorous  untiring  action,  have 
perhaps  never  been  surpassed." 

He  describes  him  as  being  fast  for  short  distances,  by  which  he 
explains  that  he  means  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  which  he  says  was  the 
usual  distance  run  in  those  days.  From  this  celebrated  horse  are 
descended,  more  or  less  remotely,  "Black  Hawk,"  "  Ethan  Allen," 
"American  Eagle,"  and  a  host  of  horses  celebrated  for  gameness, 
and  many  of  them  for  fast-trotting  powers.  But  those  who  dis- 
pute the  claims  of  Mr.  Justin  Morgan's  horse  to  be  considered  the 
founder  of  the  family,  assert  that  before  his  time  a  similar  horse 
prevailed  in  this  district  which  was  made  up  of  crosses  between 
the  Canadian  horse  and  the  English  thorough-bred.  I  shall,  how- 
ever, leave  this  much-vexed  question  for  the  Americans  to  settle 
among  themselves,  contenting  myself  with  a  description  of  the  mo- 
dern Morgan  horse  as  he  is  recognised  throughout  the  states  of 
America.  He  is  generally,  though  not  universally,  admitted  to  be 
very  stout  and  enduring,  with  good  action,  especially  in  the  trot, 
and  great  hardness  of  constitution.  He  shows  very  little  evidence 
of  pure  blood;  indeed  it  may  be  said  that  the  reverse  is  the  case,  as 
he  invariably  possesses  a  thick  and  long  mane  and  tail,  with  a  con- 
siderable curl  in  both,  signs  which  may  be  truly  said  are  fatal  to 
his  claims.  In  height  he  seldom  exceeds  fifteen  hands.  His  frame 
is  corky,  but  not  remarkably  well  put  together,  there  being  gene- 
rally a  deficiency  in  the  coupling  of  the  back  and  loins.  The  fore- 
head is  very  light,  and  carried  high,  somewhat  in  the  fashion  of 
the  Canadians,  but  not  so  heavy  in  the  crest  and  junction  of  the 
neck  to  the  shoulder,  though  the  setting  of  the  head  is  equally 
thick.  On  the  whole,  the  Morgan  horse  may  be  described  as  ex- 
5  D 


50  THE  HORSE. 

tremely  useful,  but  deficient  in  what  we  call  "quality,"  in  propor- 
tion to  the  absence  of  thorough  blood. 

THE  AMERICAN   TROTTER. 

THE  TRUE  MODERN  TROTTING  HORSE  is  a  most  remarkable 
instance  of  what  may  be  done  by  keeping  an  animal  to  one  kind 
of  work  for  generations,  and  selecting  the  specimens  best  fitted  for 
it  to  breed  from.  In  this  country  a  thorough-bred  horse,  or  even 
one  of  nearly  pure  blood,  could  not  be  found  at  any  price  to  trot  a 
mile  in  three  minutes,  yet  in  America  there  are  plenty,  of  blood 
almost  entirely  derived  from  the  English  turf  horse,  which  will 
perform  the  distance  in  two  minutes  and  forty  seconds,  and  some 
in  considerably  less  time.  In  America  private  and  public  trotting 
matches  in  harness  have  been  for  many  years  the  chief  amusement 
of  the  town  population,  and,  until  very  recently,  when  flat  racing 
or  running,  as  it  is  called  there,  has  been  more  developed,  a  fast 
trotter  fetched  a  higher  price  than  any  other  description  of  horse. 
Trotting  matches  are,  in  fact,  the  national  sport,  just  as  racing  is 
that  of  our  own  country.  Latterly,  however,  the  amusement  has 
been  somewhat  on  the  decline,  the  aristocratic  classes  holding  them- 
selves aloof,  and  patronizing  the  turf  in  preference.  Still  there  is 
no  diminution  in  the  pace  of  their  trotters,  and,  on  the  contrary, 
the  celebrated  Flora  Temple  has  recently  made  the  best  time  on 
record,  having,  on  the  15th  of  October,  1859,  when  fourteen  years 
old,  done  a  third  mile  heat  in  two  minutes,  nineteen  and  three- 
quarter  seconds,  and  having,  in  June,  1861,  performed  three  sepa- 
rate mile  heats  in  the  wonderfully  short  time  of  seven  minutes, 
six  and  a  half  seconds.* 

Mr.  Herbert,  in  his  quarto  work  on  "  The  Horse  of  America/' 
clearly  shows  the  reason  why  our  transatlantic  cousins  excel  us  in 
their  trotters,  and  why  they  take  to  this  species  of  amusement  in 
preference  to  others.  After  enumerating  several  which  do  not 
appear  to  us  quite  so  cogent  as  to  him,  he  more  pertinently  says, 
"  Another  reason,  inferior  in  practical  truth  to  the  others  adduced, 
but  physically  superior,  is  this, — that  before  American  trotters 
could  be  generally  used  in  Great  Britain,  the  whole  system  of 
British  road-making  must  be  altered,  which  is  not  likely  to  occur. 
On  an  ordinary  English  macadamized  turnpike,  which  is  exactly 
the  same  as  the  hardest  central  part  of  the  New  York  Third  Ave- 
nue, without  any  soft  track  alongside  of  it,  an  American  trotter 
would  pound  his  shoes  off  in  an  hour's  trot,  and  his  feet  off  in  a 
week's  driving ;  and  this  is  doubtless,  whatever  may  be  said  of  the 
objections  heretofore  offered,  one  which  must  operate  for  ever 
against  the  general  use  of  trotters  after  the  American  fashion, 

*  Since  the  above  was  written  the  renowned  "Dexter"  has  eclipsed  all 
previous  records,  having  trotted  three  separate  mile  heats  in  6m.  5s.,  and  a 
mile  in  the  unprecedented  time  of  2m.  17£s. — EDITOR. 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTER.  51 

unless  they  be  trained  and  kept  exclusively  for  sporting  purposes. 
This,  however,  is  no  more,  but  even  less  likely  to  occur  than  the 
total  alteration  of  the  whole  system  of  English  road-making,  and 
the  entire  change  of  the  tastes  and  habits  of  the  English  people  : 
since  the  point  which  renders  the  trotting  horse  so  popular  here 
would  then  be  wanting,  namely,  his  equal  adaptability  to  ordinary 
road  driving  and  purposes  of  general  utility,  and  to  occasional 
matching  and  turf  amusements  of  a  peculiar  though  inferior  descrip- 
tion." This  is  the  true  cause  of  the  "  decline  and  fall"  of  trotting 
horses  in  England,  for  in  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century 
there  were  ten  good  performers  on  the  trot  for  one  now.  The  pace 
is  not  a  natural  one,  and  in  its  highest  perfection,  especially,  it 
must  be  developed  by  constant  practice.  But  this  is  forbidden  on 
our  modern  roads,  which,  as  Mr.  Herbert  truly  remarks,  would 
ruin  the  legs  and  feet  of  any  horse  ridden  or  driven  at  such  a  pace 
as  to  do  a  mile  in  two  minutes  and  thirty  seconds.  I  fully  believe 
that  the  horses  of  America  have  sounder  legs  and  feet  than  those 
of  our  own  country,  partly  from  being  kept  cooler  in  their  stables, 
partly  from  their  being  less  stimulated  by  inordinate  quantities  of 
oats  and  beans,  but  chiefly  from  their  ancestors  having  been  less 
injured  by  hard  roads  than  those  of  our  own.  If  this  is  the  case 
we  must  have  in  every  succeeding  generation  more  and  more  diffi- 
culty in  getting  sound  roadsters,  and  such,  I  believe,  is  really 
the  fact. 

BY  MANY  people  it  is  supposed  that  the  American  trotter  is  a 
distinct  breed  or  strain  of  horses,  and  that  we  can  in  this  country 
easily  obtain  plenty  of  horses  able  to  do  their  mile  "within  the 
thirties/'  by  importing  individuals  and  breeding  from  them.  This 
hypothesis,  however,  appears  to  be  unfounded  according  to  the 
evidence  of  Mr.  Herbert,  as  recorded  in  his  "  magnum  opus/'  and 
that  of  other  writers  in  the  New  York  sporting  press.  The  former 
gentleman,  who  is  "well  up"  on  this  subject,  says: — "And  first 
we  shall  find  that  the  time  trotter  in  America  is  neither  an  original 
animal  of  a  peculiar  and  distinct  breed,  nor  even  an  animal  of  very 
long  existence  since  his  first  creation.  Secondly,  we  shall  find 
that  in  an  almost  incredibly  short  space  of  time/owing  to  the  great 
demand  for  and  universal  popularity  of  the  animal,  united  to  a 
perfectly  devised,  and  now  ubiquitously  understood,  system  of 
breaking,  training,  and  driving  him  so  as  to  develop  all  his  quali- 
ties to  the  utmost,  the  trotting  horse  of  high  speed,  good  endurance, 
showy  style  of  going,  and  fine  figure,  has  become  from  a  rarity  a 
creature  of  every-day  occurrence,  to  be  met  with  by  dozens  in  the 
eastern  and  middle  states,  and  scarcely  any  longer  regarded  as  a 
trotter,  unless  he  can  do  his  mile  in  somewhere  about  two  minutes 
and  a  half.  Thirdly,  it  will  appear  that  the  trotting  horse  is,  in 
no  possible  sense,  a  distinct  race,  breed,  or  family  of  the  horse ; 


52  THE  HORSE. 

and  that  his  qualities  as  a  trotter  cannot  be  ascribed  or  traced  to 
his  origin  from,  or  connection  with,  any  one  blood  more  than  an- 
other. It  is  true,  and  it  is  to  be  regretted,  that  of  trotting  horses 
the  pedigrees  have  been  so  little  alluded  to,  and  probably  from  the 
nature  of  circumstances  are  so  seldom  attainable,  that  few,  indeed, 
can  be  directly  traced  to  any  distance  in  blood.  Enough  is  known, 
however,  to  show  that  some  horses  of  first-rate  powers  have  come 
from  the  Canadian  or  Norman-French  stock ;  some  from  the  ordi- 
nary undistinguished  country  horse  of  the  southernmost  of  the  mid- 
land states;  some  from  the  Vermont  family ;  some  from  the  Indian 
pony;  and  lastly,  some  mainly,  if  not  entirely,  from  the  thorough- 
bred. To  no  one  of  these  families  can  any  superiority  be  attributed 
as  producing  trotters  of  great  speed.  All  have  shown  their  speci- 
mens by  means  of  which  to  claim  their  share  in  the  production. 
Only  it  may  be  affirmed,  generally,  that  while  some  very  famous 
trotting  horses  have  been  nearly,  if  not  entirely,  thorough-bred,  the 
low,  lazy,  lounging,  daisy-cutting  gait  and  action  of  the  full-blooded 
horse  of  Oriental  blood  is  not  generally  compatible  with  great  trot- 
ting action  or  speed.  Still  it  is  true  that  the  best  time-trotters 
have  not  the  round,  high-stepped  action  which  is  prized  in  carriage- 
horses,  or  parade-horses  for  show,  and  which  probably  originated 
and  existed  to  the  greatest  extent  in  the  Flemish  or  the  Hanove- 
rian horse  of  the  coldest  of  all  imaginable  strains  of  blood;  and  that 
they  have  in  a  great  measure  the  long  reaching  stride,  the  quick 
gather,  and  the  comparatively  low  step  of  the  thorough-bred/' 

THE  NARRAGANSET  PACER. 

IT  IS  SUPPOSED  that  this  beautiful  variety  of  the  American 
horse,  which  is  now  nearly  or  quite  extinct,  is  descended  from  the 
Spanish  horse.  There  are  several  traditions  afloat  in  support  of 
this  and  other  theories,  but  by  general  consent  it  is  admitted  that 
the  above  theory  as  to  his  origin  is  the  true  one.  According  to 
this,  he  was  introduced  into  New  England  by  Governor  Pvobinson. 
from  Andalusia,  and  for  many  years  the  breed  was  kept  up  for  the 
supply  of  Cuba,  the  voyage  being  much  shorter  than  that  from  the 
mother  country,  Spain.  These  horses  were  of  good  size  and  natural 
pacers,  the  action  being  on  alternate  sides,  but  remarkably  easy. 
which  is  more  than  can  always  be  said  of  the  modern  rackers  or 
pacers.  As  the  roads  improved,  however,  in  the  West  India 
islands,  carriages  were  introduced,  and  then,  the  demand  ceasing 
almost  entirely,  the  breed  was  neglected,  and  is  now  unknown  in 
its  pure  form. 

THE  AMERICAN  THOROUGH-BRED. 

UNTIL  THE  ENGLISH  THOROUGH-BRED  Horse  is  described,  it  is 
scarcely  possible  to  enter  fully  into  the  pedigree  of  the  American, 


THE  AMERICAN  THOROUGH-BRED.  53 

descended  as  the  latter  is  from  stock  imported  from  the  mother 
country.  But,  taking  the  fact  for  granted,  I  may  proceed  to  allude 
to  the  progress  which  has  been  made  in  the  United  States,  from 
the  date  of  the  first  importation.  It  appears  that  shortly  prior  to 
the  year  1750,  a  Mr.  Ogle,  the  Governor  of  Maryland,  was  in  pos- 
session of  Spark,  presented  to  him  by  Lord  Baltimore.  About  the 
same  time  he  also  imported  Queen  Mab,  by  Musgrove's  gray  Arab; 
and,  soon  afterwards,  Colonel  Tasker  obtained  Selima,  daughter 
of  the  Godolphin  Arabian;  while  Colonel  Colville's  Miss  Colville, 
known  in  the  English  Stud  Book  as  Wilkes'  Old  Hautboy  mare, 
Colonel  Taylor's  Jenny  Cameron,  and  Routh's  Crab,  were  severally 
introduced  into  the  colony.  In  1747,  Monkey,  by  the  Lonsdale 
bay  Arab,  though  in  his  twenty-second  year,  crossed  the  Atlantic, 
and  got  some  good  stock,  followed  during  the  next  year  by  Jolly 
Roger,  by  Roundhead,  out  of  a  Partner  mare.  About  1764,  Fear- 
nought, a  son  of  Regulus  and  Silvertail,  and  therefore  of  the  very 
highest  English  blood,  went  to  America,  and  within  a  few  years 
of  that  date  Morton's  Traveller,  by  Partner,  out  of  a  mare  by  the 
Bloody  Buttocks  Arabian,  which  completes  the  list  of  the  importa- 
tions prior  to  the  War  of  Independence.  It  must  be  observed, 
that,  before  the  year  1829,  no  Turf  Register  existed  in  America, 
and  hence  there  is  not  the  same  guarantee  for  the  fidelity  of  a 
pedigree  as  in  England,  where  there  are  authentic  records  which 
reach  to  a  much  earlier  period.  Moreover,  the  war  upset  the 
homes  of  so  many  families,  that  multitudes  of  documents  were  lost; 
but,  nevertheless,  I  believe  sufficient  has  been  preserved  to  prove 
the  authenticity  of  the  pedigrees  belonging  to  the  horses  which  I 
have  enumerated,  and  whose  progeny  can  be  traced  down  to  the 
present  day,  their  blood  being  mingled  with  that  of  numerous  im- 
portations of  a  more  recent  date.  The  love  of  racing  was  very  soon 
implanted  in  the  colonists  of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  from  whom 
it  spread  to  North  and  South  Carolina,  and  in  these  southern  states 
the  sport  has  been  kept  up  to  the  present  day  with  great  spirit. 
Tennessee  was  inoculated  with  the  virus  of  the  racing  mania  soon 
after  its  first  settlement,  as  also  may  be  said  of  Kentucky,  both 
states  having  possessed  some  very  celebrated  horses  at  various 
times.  New  York  joined  in  at  a  much  later  period  than  the  southern 
states,  no  organized  racing-club  existing  there  until  after  the  com- 
mencement of  the  present  century;  although  there  were  small 
racecourses  at  Newmarket  and  Jamaica  before  the  Revolution. 
But  the  energy  of  the  true  Yankee  sent  the  New  Yorkites  ahead, 
and  they  soon  became  worthy  rivals  of  the  southern  statesmen. 
From  1815  to  1845,  the  great  stables  of  the  North  and  South 
were  carried  on  under  a  most  honorable  rivalry;  but  at  the  second 
of  these  dates,  it  so  happened  that  a  vast  number  of  the  most  ener- 
5* 


54  THE  HORSE. 

getic  supporters  of  the  turf  in  the  northern  states  withdrew  from 
the  arena,  and,  as  they  disappeared,  none  filled  the  gaps,  except 
a  few  professed  trainers  and  jockeys,  who  carried  racing  on  entirely 
as  a  business,  and  regardless  of  that  honorable  spirit  which  had 
previously  distinguished  it.  Trotting  also  came  into  fashion,  and 
the  fanatics  preached  a  crusade  against  both,  which  took  double 
effect  upon  the  sport,  already  tottering  to  its  fall.  It  may  indeed 
be  said,  that  from  1845  to  1855,  racing  in  America  was  confined 
entirely  to  the  south  ;  but  about  1855  or  1856  a  new  jockey-club 
was  established  in  New  York,  and  its  members  laid  out  a  new  race- 
course on  Long  Island;  but  still  the  second  effort  was  not  equal  to 
the  first,  and  New  Orleans  has  taken  the  wind  altogether  out  of 
the  Long  Island  sails,  by  the  spirited  attempt  which  has  been 
made  by  Mr.  Ten  Broeck  to  match  his  stud  against  the  first  Eng- 
lish horses  on  their  own  ground.  That  he  has  failed  in  carry i tig 
off  the  Derby  with  Umpire  is  no  proof  of  the  general  inferiority 
of  American  horses  to  those  of  England,  any  more  than  his  other 
great  successes  are  enough  to  insure  a  conviction  of  the  opposite 
condition  in  any  unprejudiced  mind.  Umpire  might  have  been 
an  exceptional  horse,  and  granting  to  him  the  high  form  which  he 
was  last  year  (1859)  assured  to  possess,  it  would  prove  nothing 
quoad  the  general  form  of  the  horses  of  his  country.  Still  it 
cannot  be  denied  that  they  are  much  nearer  to  our  own  than  was 
believed  to  be  the  case  before  Mr.  Ten  Broeck  came  among  us;  but 
how  near  they  are  is  yet  a  vexed  question,  which  will  take  some 
time  to  settle. 

THE  AMERICAN  THOROUGH-BRED  HORSE  is  said  to  be  much 
stouter  than  the  modern  English  strains ;  and  without  doubt  Mr. 
Ten  Broeck's  Prioress  can  stay  better  than  most  English  horses, 
though  she  is  not  considered  by  the  Americans  themselves  to  be 
quite  up  to  the  best  staying  form  which  they  possess.  This  sub- 
ject, however,  will  be  better  considered  after  the  performances 
of  the  English  horse  are  carefully  examined.  It  must  be  remem- 
bered that,  with  the  exception  of  the  horses  recently  brought  over 
to  this  country,  we  have  no  means  of  comparison  beyond  the  time 
test,  which  is  not  a  reliable  one  j  firstly,  because  we  have  no  time- 
races  here ;  and,  secondly,  because  none  of  our  long  distances  are 
run  from  end  to  end.  As  far  as  I  have  had  an  opportunity  of 
seeing,  and  with  the  single  exception  of  Charleston,  all  Mr.  Ten 
Broeck's  horses  have  been  extremely  narrow,  the  crack  Umpire  in 
particular  being  u  like  two  deal  boards  nailed  together,"  as  the 
"  men  of  stable  mind"  say  here.  His  hips  are  the  narrowest  1 
ever  saw  in  a  horse  supposed  to  be  of  first  class,  and  those  of 
Prioress  are  not  much  more  developed.  The  celebrated  horse, 
Lexington,  who  is  out  of  the  s:ime  mare  as  Umpire,  is  also  reported 
to  have  been  very  narrow  in  the  hips,  so  that  probably  this  pecu- 


VERMONT  AND  CONESTOGA  HORSES.  55 

Karity  runs  throughout  that  strain  of  blood,  but  whether  derived 
from  Alice  Oarneal  or  from  Boston  (who  got  both  Lexington  and 
Lecompte,  the  latter  the  sire  of  Umpire)  I  cannot  say.  Neverthe- 
less, unless  the  time-test  is  utterly  fallacious,  both  Lexington  and 
Lecompte  must  have  been  stout,  for  they  have  each  done  four 
miles,  under  seven  stone  two,  in  seven  minutes  twenty-six  seconds, 
with  a  start  similar  to  that  adopted  in  England.  Lexington,  with 
the  same  kind  of  start,  has  performed  the  same  task  in  seven  min- 
utes twenty-three  and  a  half  seconds,  and  with  a  running  start 
against  time,  in  the  extraordinarily  short  time  of  seven  minute? 
nineteen  and  three-quarter  seconds.* 

THE  VERMONT  CART-HORSE. 

A  DISTINCT  BREED  of  draught-horses  under  this  name  is  de- 
scribed by  Mr.  Herbert  as  existing  in  Vermont  and  the  adjacent 
country,  though  now,  he  says,  less  marked  than  it  was  prior  to  the 
introduction  of  railroads.  I  cannot,  however,  find  any  other 
authority  for  it,  nor  do  I  quite  agree  with  the  above  writer  in 
thinking  the  breed,  if  he  rightly  describes  it,  as  identical  with  the 
Cleveland  Bay.  He  says,  "  These  are  the  very  models  of  what 
draught-horses  should  be ;  combining  immense  power  with  great 
quickness,  a  very  respectable  turn  of  speed,  fine  show,  and  good 
action.  These  animals  have  almost  invariably  lofty  crests,  thin 
withers,  and  well  set  on  heads;  and  although  they  are  emphati- 
cally draught-horses,  they  have  none  of  that  shagginess  of  mane, 
tail,  and  fetlocks,  which  indicates  a  descent  from  the  black  horse 
of  Lincolnshire,  and  none  of  that  peculiar  curliness  or  waviness 
which  marks  the  existence  of  Canadian  or  Norman  blood  for  many 
generations,  and  which  is  discoverable  in  the  manes  and  tails  of 
very  many  of  the  horses  which  claim  to  be  pure  Morgans.  The 
peculiar  characteristic,  however,  of  these  horses,  is  the  shortness 
of  their  backs,  the  roundness  of  their  barrels,  and  the  closeness  of 
their  ribbing  up.  One  would  say  that  they  are  ponies  until  he 
comes  to  stand  beside  them,  when  he  is  astonished  to  find  that  they 
are  oftener  over  than  under  sixteen  hands  in  height." 

THE  CONESTOGA  DRAUGHT-HORSE. 

THE  LAST  on  the  list  of  American  horses  is  that  known  under 
the  above  name,  which  was  given  to  it  from  being  produced  in  the 
valley  of  Conestoga,  within  the  state  of  Pennsylvania.  It  is  a  very 
large  muscular  horse,  often  reaching  to  seventeen  hands  and  up- 
wards, and  closely  resembling  the  heaviest  breeds  of  German  and 

*  In  a  race  against  time  (October  17th,  1867),  Kentucky,  the  famous 
son  of  Lexington,  then  four  years  old,  ran  4  miles  in  7  min.  31|  sec.  The 
first  two  miles  were  run  in  3  min.  36  sec.,  the  first  three  in  5  min.  29  sec. 
Kentucky  carried  a  weight  of  120lbs. 


56 


THE  HOUSE. 


CONE8TOGA  DRAUGHT-HORSE. 


Flemish  cart-horses.  The  early  settlers  of  this  part  of  the  United 
States  were  mostly  Germans,  and  they  either  brought  over  with 
them  some  of  the  horses  of  their  country,  or  else  they  have  since 
selected  from  those  within  their  reach  the  animals  most  resembling 
in  appearance  their  old  favorites  when  in  their  fatherland.  There 
is,  however,  no  record  of  the  origin  of  the  breed,  and  all  that  can 
be  done  is  to  describe  it  as  it  now  exists. 

THE  ACCOMPANYING  sketch  embodies  the  general  appearance 
of  these  horses,  and  by  comparing  it  with  the  London  dray-horse, 
it  will  be  seen  that  it  differs  only  slightly,  having  the  same  heavy 
outline  of  form,  united  with  similar  comparatively  light  limbs,  but 
not  burdened  with  the  mountains  of  flesh  and  heavy  crests  which 
have  been  produced  in  England  for  purposes  of  show.  In  Penn- 
sylvania, these  horses  are  chiefly  used  for  wagons,  and  some  few 
of  them,  when  of  inferior  shape,  for  the  canal  traffic.  They  are 
good  honest  workers,  and  are  quicker  and  lighter  in  their  action 
than  might  be  expected  from  their  weight.  Indeed,  some  of  them 
are  still  used  for  heavy  carriages ;  but  even  in  Pennsylvania,  for 


EARLY  MATURITY.  57 

quick  work,  they  are  generally  replaced  by  the  Vermont  horse,  or 
some  nondescript  of  mixed  blood,  with  which  America  is  com- 
pletely overrun. 

In  color  they  follow  the  Flemish  horses,  except  that  black  is  rare 
among  them,  but  like  the  Flemish  they  are  free  from  chestnut,  and 
the  larger  proportion  of  them  are  bay,  brown,  or  iron  grays. 


CHAPTER    V. 

THE    THOROUGH-BRED    HORSE. 

Early  Maturity — Object  of  Encouraging  the  Breed — Essentials  in 
the  Thorough-bred — Purity  of  Blood — External  Formation — 
Height — Color — Coat,  Mane,  and  Tail. 

EARLY  MATURITY. 

IT  is  AN  UNDENIABLE  fact,  as  I  believe,  that  preternaturally 
early  maturity  is  incompatible  with  lasting  qualities  of  any  kind ; 
but,  though  the  same  rule  generally  holds  good  throughout  nature, 
there  are  some  exceptions.  Thus,  the  oak  is  more  lasting  than  the 
larch,  and  the  elephant  outlives  the  horse,  but  the  goose  and  the 
duck,  which  arrive  at  maturity  in  the  same  number  of  months,  do 
not  live  through  a  corresponding  series  of  years.  The  forcing  pro- 
cess in  gardening  is  always  productive  of  tenderness,  whether  the 
produce  be  the  cucumber  or  the  sea-kale,  and  this  tenderness  is 
only  another  name  for  imperfect  formation  to  resist  decay.  In  the 
days  of  Eclipse  and  Childers  they  were  permitted  to  attain  their 
full  growth  without  forcing,  and,  not  being  wanted  till  five  years 
old,  their  ligaments,  tendons,  and  bones  had  plenty  of  time  to  be 
consolidated  before  they  were  submitted  to  the  strains  and  jerks  of 
the  extended  gallop.  There  is  also  reason  to  believe  that  they 
were  not  nearly  so  much  or  so  soon  stimulated  by  large  feeds  of 
oats,  as  is  now  invariably  the  custom,  but  that  they  were  allowed 
to  remain  at  grass,  with  the  shelter  of  a  hovel,  during  the  first 
three  or  four  years  of  their  lives.  All  this  is  now  changed ;  the 
foal  is  filled  with  corn  as  soon  as  he  will  eat  it,  and  at  the  end  of 
the  first  year  he  is  furnished  as  much  as  the  old-fashioned  three- 
year-old.  One  chief  difficulty  of  the  trainer  now  is  to  keep  his 
horse  sound,  and,  unfortunately,  as  disease  is  in  most  cases  heredi- 
tary, and  too  many  unsound  stallions  are  bred  from,  the  difficulty 
is  yearly  on  the  increase.  Without  doubt  roaring  is  far  more 
common  than  it  used  to  be,  and  the  possession  of  enlarged  joints, 
and  back  sinews,  is  the  rule  instead  of  the  exception.  During  the 


58  THE  HORSE. 

last  ten  years,  the  Derby  has  five  times  been  won  by  an  unsound 
animal,  which  the  trainer  was  almost  immediately  afterwards  obliged 
to  put  out  of  work,  either  from  diseased  feet  or  a  break-down,  and 
yet  few  breeders  think  of  refusing  to  use  such  horses  as  these. 
Nevertheless,  good  legs  and  feet,  and  a  hearty  constitution,  are  no 
small  recommendations,  and  Mr.  Merry  may  thank  them  for  win- 
ning him  the  great  prize  of  the  year  1860,  with  Thormanby,  a  son 
of  that  wonderful  mare  Alice  Hawthorne.  Thormanby,  however, 
is  not  an  instance  of  a  colt  having  been  reserved  till  he  was  arrived 
at  his  growth,  for  there  are  few  horses  which  have  been  more  used, 
having  run  fourteen  times  as  a  two-year-old;  but  his  naturally 
excellent  legs  and  feet,  and  the  fine  down  on  which  he  is  trained, 
have  enabled  him  to  pull  through  unscathed.  Now  the  reliance 
which  was  placed  by  his  backers  on  these  good  qualities,  proves 
that  he  is  an  exception  to  the  rule ;  for  if  they  were  at  all  common, 
they  would  be  of  comparatively  little  advantage.  The  truth  really 
is,  that  the  average  racehorse  of  modern  times  is  of  such  forced 
growth,  that  he  is  unable  to  bear  the  wear  and  tear  of  training  as 
he  used  to  do,  and  hence  a  much  larger  percentage  of  unsound 
animals  is  to  be  met  with.  He  is  bred  mainly  for  speed,  super- 
added  to  which  is  as  much  stoutness  and  soundness  of  constitution 
as  can  be  procured  among  the  most  speedy  horses  at  the  service 
of  the  breeder.  By  a  perseverance  in  this  method  of  selection,  he 
has  undoubtedly  become  more  speedy,  and  less  lasting  in  propor- 
tion to  his  speed,  that  is  to  say,  he  cannot  be  extended  for  as  long 
a  time  as  he  used  to  bear  with  impunity.  But  that  he  cannot 
cover  as  much  ground  in  a  given  time  as  formerly  is,  I  think,  an 
error, — for  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  any  distance  may 
now  be  run  in  as  short  a  time  at  least,  as  either  in  the  middle  of 
the  last  century  or  the  beginning  of  this. 

OBJECT  OF  ENCOURAGING  THE  BREED  OF  HORSES. 

THE  GREAT  OBJECT  of  encouraging  the  breed  of  racehorses  is, 
however,  lost  sight  of,  if  suitable  crosses  for  hunting,  cavalry,  and 
hack-mares  cannot  be  obtained  from  their  ranks.  In  these  three 
kinds,  soundness  of  the  feet  and  legs  is  all  important,  together  with 
a  capacity  to  bear  a  continuation  of  severe  work.  These  qualities 
are  highly  developed  in  the  Arab,  and  until  lately  were  met  with 
in  his  descendants  on  the  English  turf.  Even  now  a  horse  with  a 
stain  in  his  pedigree  will  not  bear  the  amount  of  training  which  a 
thorough-bred  will  sustain,  his  health  and  spirits  soon  giving  way 
if  forced  to  go  through  the  work  which  the  racehorse  requires  to 
make  him  "  fit."  But  the  legs  and  feet  of  the  latter  are  the  draw- 
backs to  his  use,  and  the  trainer  of  the  present  day  will  generally 
be  sadly  taxed  to  make  them  last  through  a  dry  summer.  Our 
modern  roads  are  also  much  harder  since  the  introduction  of  mac- 


OBJECT  OF  ENCOURAGING  THE  BREED.  59 

adamization,  and  thus,  in  proportion  to  our  greater  demands,  is  the 
absence  of  the  material  to  meet  them.  A  hack  that  is  not  pretty 
well  bred  is  now  neglected,  except  for  high  weights,  because  his 
paces  are  not  soft  and  pleasant,  and  he  does  not  satisfy  the  eye. 
But  how  many  of  the  fashionable  sort  will  bear  constant  use  on 
the  road  without  becoming  lame  ?  And  how  many  sound  horses 
are  there  to  be  met  with  out  of  a  hundred,  taken  at  random  from 
the  ranks  of  any  kind  tolerably  well  bred  ?  Every  horse  proprietor 
will  tell  you,  scarcely  five  per  cent. ;  and  some  will  even  go  so  far 
as  to  say,  that  a  sound  horse  is  utterly  unknown.  In  considering 
the  principles  and  practice  of  breeding,  I  shall  again  refer  to  this 
subject;  but  I  wish  now  to  impress  upon  my  readers  that  while 
the  racehorse  of  1860  is  as  fast  as  ever,  as  stout  as  ever,  and  as 
good  looking  as  ever,  he  is  made  of  more  perishable  materials  in 
proportion  as  he  comes  to  maturity  at  an  earlier  period.  Any  of 
our  modern  two-year-olds  would  probably  give  two  stone,  and  a 
beating  to  Eclipse  at  the  same  age,  but  if  afterwards  they  were  put 
to  half-bred  mares  for  the  purpose  of  getting  hacks,  chargers,  or 
hunters,  the  stock  of  Eclipse  or  Guilders  would  be  much  more 
valuable  than  any  which  we  have  at  present.  We  are  sadly  in 
want  of  sound  and  well  bred  stallions  for  general  purposes,  and  if 
the  government  of  the  country  does  not  soon  interfere,  and  adopt 
some  means  of  furnishing  these  islands  with  them,  we  shall  be 
beaten  on  our  own  ground,  and  shall  have  to  import  sound  useful 
horses  from  Belgium,  France,  Hungary,  or  Prussia,  whichever 
country  can  best  spare  them.  The  old-fashioned  and  sound  tho- 
rough-bred horse  has  been  the  means  of  improving  the  above  three 
breeds ;  and  even  now  we  possess  horses  which  are  perfect  in  every 
other  respect  but  soundness,  being  excellent  hacks,  hunters,  and 
light  carriage-horses,  and  often  all  in  one.  This  last  kind  is  the 
perfection  of  the  horse ;  and  if  many  such  could  be  produced  it 
would  be  a  great  advantage,  because  most  people  would  like  a  horse 
which  could  "  make  himself  generally  useful,"  if  such  an  animal 
could  be  obtained.  Without  high-breeding,  however,  this  is  im- 
possible; and  yet  with  most  of  our  purest  strains,  though  it  is 
attainable  for  a  time,  the  condition  in  which  it  exists  does  not  last 
long,  in  consequence  of  the  effect  of  the  hard  road  upon  their  soft 
legs  or  contracted  feet.  Consequently,  as  I  have  already  remarked, 
there  is  a  necessity  for  government  interference  to  produce  such  a 
breed  of  thorough-bred  horses,  by  careful  selection,  as  shall  give 
us  the  above  three  kinds  of  horses  useful  in  civil  life,  from  which 
may  be  culled  a  plentiful  supply  of  cavalry  horses,  whenever  wanted; 
for  the  very  same  qualities  are  demanded  in  all,  and  what  will  suit 
the  one  will  be  equally  advantageous  to  the  other. 

But  even  though  the  thorough-bred  horse  is  well  fitted  to  com- 
pete with  others  in  all  cases  where  speed  is  the  chief  point  of  trial — 


60  THE  HORSE. 

as  in  flat-racing,  steeple-chasing,  hunting,  &c., — yet  he  is  not  so 
well  qualified  for  some  kinds  of  harness-work,  or  for  road-work  of 
any  kind,  as  the  horse  expressly  bred  for  these  purposes.  There 
is  no  doubt  that  thorough-bred  horses  might  be  selected  and  bred 
expressly  for  this  kind  of  work,  and  would  excel  all  others,  because 
originally  their  limbs  and  constitutions  were  at  least  as  sound  as, 
or  perhaps  even  sounder  than,  any  other  class  of  horses;  but  while 
they  are  selected  and  bred  solely  for  speed,  without  much  reference 
to  these  other  qualities,  it  is  useless  to  expect  much  improvement  j 
but  on  the  contrary,  they  may  be  expected  to  become  yearly  more 
and  more  soft  and  yielding.  For  many  purposes  the  Eastern  horse 
is  wholly  unfit — as,  for  instance,  for  heavy  and  dead  pulls ;  here 
his  high  courage,  light  weight,  and  hasty  temper  are  adverse  to 
the  performance  of  the  task,  and  he  is  far  excelled  by  the  old  Eng- 
lish, or  modern  improved  cart-horse.  No  thorough-bred  horse 
would  try  again  and  again  at  a  dead  pull  like  many  of  our  best 
breeds  of  cart-horses ;  and  therefore  he  is  little  calculated  for  work 
which  requires  this  slow  struggling  kind  of  exertion.  The  pull  of 
the  Eastern  horse,  or  his  descendant,  is  a  snatch ;  and  though  it 
may  to  a  certain  extent  be  modified  by  use,  yet  it  can  never  be 
brought  up  to  the  standard  of  the  English  cart-horse,  even  if  the 
weight  of  carcase  and  size  and  strength  of  limb  of  the  former 
could  be  sufficiently  increased. 

ESSENTIALS  IN  THE   THOROUGH-BRED. 
SUCH  THEN  ARE  THE  GENERAL  QUALITIES  of  the  thorough-bred 

horse  and  the  purposes  to  which  he  can  be  beneficially  applied.  It 
remains  now  to  consider  the  formation  and  specific  characteristics 
best  adapted  to  the  turf,  which  is  his  chief  arena ;  and  also  to  the 
hunting-field,  which  now  absorbs  a  very  large  number  of  his  breed. 
Finally,  it  will  be  necessary  to  consider  him  as  a  means  of  improv- 
ing other  breeds,  such  as  the  cavalry-charger,  hack  and  harness 
horse,  but  these  subjects  will  fall  under  the  respective  heads  here 
mentioned. 

PURITY  OF  BLOOD. 

IN  THE  FIRST  PLACE  PURITY  OF  BLOOD  must  be  considered  as  a 
sine  qua  non,  for  without  it  a  horse  cannot  be  considered  thorough- 
bred, and  therefore  we  have  only  to  ascertain  the  exact  meaning 
of  the  term  "  blood."  It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  there  is  any 
real  difference  between  the  blood  of  the  thorough-bred  horse,  and 
that  of  the  half-bred  animal  •  no  one  could  discriminate  between 
the  two  by  any  known  means;  the  term  "blood"  is  here  synony- 
mous with  breed,  and  by  purity  of  blood  is  meant  purity  in  the 
breeding  of  the  individual  animal  under  consideration  ;  that  is  to 
say,  that  the  horse  which  is  entirely  bred  from  one  source  is  pure 
from  any  mixture  with  any  other,  and  may  be  a  pure  Suffolk 


EXTERNAL  FORMATION.  61 

Punch,  or  a  pure  Clydesdale,  or  a  pure  thorough-bred  horse.  But 
all  these  terms  are  comparative,  since  there  is  no  such  animal  as  a 
perfectly  purely  bred  horse  of  any  breed,  whether  cart-horse,  hack, 
or  racehorse ;  all  have  been  produced  from  an  admixture  with 
other  kinds,  and  though  now  kept  as  pure  as  possible,  yet  they 
were  originally  compounded  from  varying  elements ;  and  thus  the 
racehorse  of  1700,  was  obtained  from  a  mixture  of  Turks,  Arabs, 
and  Barbs.  Even  the  best  and  purest  thorough-breds  are  stained 
with  some  slight  cross  with  the  old  English  or  Spanish  horse,  as  I 
have  heretofore  shown,  and  therefore  it  is  only  by  comparison  that 
the  word  pure  is  applicable  to  them  or  any  others.  But  since  the 
thorough-bred  horse,  as  he  is  called,  has  long  been  bred  for  the 
race-course,  and  selections  have  been  made  with  that  view  alone, 
it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  this  breed  is  the  best  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  that  a  stain  of  any  other  is  a  deviation  from  the  clearest 
stream  into  one  more  muddy,  and  therefore  impure;  the  conse- 
quence is,  that  the  animal  bred  from  the  impure  source  fails  in 
some  of  the  essential  characteristics  of  the  pure  breed,  and  is  in 
so  far  useless  for  this  particular  object.  Now,  in  practice  this  is 
found  to  be  the  case,  for  in  every  instance  it  has  resulted  that  the 
horse  bred  with  the  slightest  deviation  from  the  sources  indicated 
by  the  stud-book,  is  unable  to  compete  in  lasting  power  with  those 
which  are  entirely  of  pure  blood.  Hence  it  is  established  as  a 
rule,  that  for  racing  purposes  every  horse  must  be  thorough-bred; 
that  is,  as  I  have  already  explained,  descended  from  a  sire  and 
dam  whose  names  are  met  with  in  the  stud-book. 

EXTERNAL   FORMATION. 

NEXT  COMES  THE  EXTERNAL  SHAPE  or  conformation  of  the 
racehorse,  which  is  a  subject  very  much  studied  by  those  who  have 
the  selection  and  management  of  them.  Experienced  trainers,  and 
those  who  have  watched  the  performances  of  the  celebrities  of  the 
turf  for  successive  years,  will  tell  you  that  "  the  horse  can  run  in 
all  forms/'  and  so  no  doubt  he  can  as  an  exception,  but  the  rule 
nevertheless  is,  that  there  is  a  standard  which  should  be  regarded 
as  the  best  suited  for  the  race-course,  and  this  will  vary  somewhat 
according  to  the  performance  which  is  required  of  each  individual. 
There  is  no  doubt  that  the  most  skilful  selection  is  not  always  at- 
tended with  success,  and  the  statistics  of  the  turf  do  not  lead  us 
to  believe  that  £1000  invested  under  the  advice  of  John  Scott  or 
John  Day,  in  the  purchase  of  a  yearling,  will  always  bring  a  re- 
muneration. Indeed,  the  contrary  has  so  often  been  the  case,  that 
high-priced  yearlings  are  generally  regarded  with  suspicion,  when 
they  make  their  first  appearance  on  the  course.  The  winner  of 
the  Derby  of  1860  went  a-begging,  and  was  at  last  bought  for  a 
very  moderate  price.  So  also  with  Butterfly,  the  winner  of  the  Oaks, 
6 


62 


THE  HORSE. 


no  store  was  set  upon  her  until  she  came  to  be  tried;  and  even  on 
the  morning  of  the  race  she  was  not  generally  thought  good  enough 
to  win.  The  celebrated  Blink  Bonny  was  a  mean-looking  mare,  and 
would  not  have  fetched  £50  at  Tattersall's,  from  her  appearance 


alone,  and  that  wonderful  animal  Fisherman  was  never  liked  till  he 
proved  his  powers.  Still,  it  cannot  be  denied  that  a  good  judge  will 
select  the  ten  best  horses  out  of  twenty,  or  perhaps  out  of  a  hundred  ; 
but  he  will  possibly  leave  the  very  best  out  of  his  list.  The  theo- 
retical rule  is  simple  enough,  but  it  requires  great  experience,  and 
a  good  eye  to  carry  it  out  in  practice.  It  is  simply  this,  that, 
cseteris  paribus,  the  horse  which  is  formed  in  the  mould  most  like 
that  of  the  greatest  number  of  good  racehorses,  will  run  the  best. 
Thus,  supposing  it  is  found  that  out  of  fifty  good  horses,  forty- 
nine  have  neat  heads,  light  necks,  deep  chests,  oblique  shoulders, 
long  racing  hind-quarters,  strong  hocks,  &c.,  the  presumption  will 
be  that  a  horse  resembling  those  forty-nine  in  shape,  will  also  re- 
semble them  in  speed  and  endurance.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is 


EXTERNAL  FORMATION.  63 

admitted  on  the  turf,  that  high-breed  iner  is  of  more  consequence 
than  external  shape,  and  that  of  two  horses,  one  perfect  in  shape, 
but  of  an  inferior  strain  of  blood,  and  the  other  of  the  most  win- 
ning blood,  but  not  so  well  formed  in  shape,  the  latter  will  be  thje 
most  likely  to  perform  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  owner  on  the  race- 
course. On  this  principle  the  proverb  has  been  framed  and  handed 
down  to  us,  that  "  an  ounce  of  blood  is  worth  a  pound  of  bone," 
and  with  the  above  explanation  such  is  really  the  case.  But  in 
spite  of  all  this  recognised  superiority  of  blood,  it  is  indisputable 
that  for  the  highest  degree  of  success  there  must  be  not  only  high 
purity  of  blood,  and  that  of  the  most  winning  strains,  but  there  miLst 
also  be  a  frame  of  the  most  useful  character,  if  not  always  of  the 
most  elegant  form.  Many  of  our  very  best  horses  have  been  plain, 
and  even  coarse-looking — as,  for  instance,  most  of  the  Melbournes, 
and  especially  that  very  fast  horse,  Sir  Tattuu  Sykes ;  but  in  spite 
of  their  plainness,  all  their  points  are  good  and  useful,  and  the 
deficiency  is  in  elegance,  not  in  real  utility.  On  the  other  hand, 
there  are  some  strains  which  unite  elegance  with  utility,  such 
as  the  fast  and  stout  Venisons,  which  are  remarkable  for  their 
beautiful  frames  and  neat  Arabian  heads.  But  there  must  always 
be  a  distinction  made  between  what  is  really  useful  and  what  is 
only  agreeable  to  the  eye.  There  are  some  characteristics  which, 
over  and  above  their  mechanical  advantages,  indicate  high-breeding, 
and  as  such  are  regarded  with  especial  favor  by  purchasers.  For 
these  a  term  has  of  late  years  been  invented,  the  meaning  of  which 
is  well  understood,  but  somewhat  difficult  to  define.  Thus,  we 
hear  it  often  remarked,  that  a  particular  horse  is  deficient  in  "qua- 
lity," or  that  he  has  it  in  perfection;  and  in  proportion  t.)  the  oi.e 
or  the  other  of  these  conditions  is  he  meant  to  be  praised  or  con- 
demned. .  It  is  not  simply  a  word  synonymous  with  "  breeding." 
for  a  horse  may  show  high  breeding,  and  yet  be  deficient  in  "qua- 
lity," but  if  with  a  look  which  convinces  you  that  he  has  a  pure 
pedigree,  he  conjoins  a  perfect  symmetry  in  all  his  parts,  and  in 
the  shapes  displayed  by  the  thorough-bred,  he  then  comes  up  to 
the  description  which  stamps  a  horse  in  these  days  with  the  highest 
seal  of  approbation,  for  "  he  has  plenty  of  quality." 

But  what  is  the  recognised  form  of  the  racehorse  ?  I  must  here 
explain  to  the  tyro  that  the  word  "  form"  is  used  with  two  different 
significations  by  racing  men,  and  like  the  word  "  box"  is  very  puz- 
zling to  foreigners.  In  the  common  acceptation  it  is  synonymous 
with  "  shape,"  and  merely  means  the  mechanical  development  of 
the  individual.  But  in  the  language  of  the  turf,  when  we  say  that 
a  horse  is  "in  form,"  we  intend  to  convey  to  our  hearers  that  he 
is  in  high  condition  and  fit  to  run.  So  again,  the  word  is  used  in 
still  another  sense,  for  we  speak  of  a  horse's  "  form"  when  we  wish 
to  allude  to  his  powers  on  the  turf,  as  compared  with  other  well- 


64  THE  HORSE. 

known  animals.  Thus,  if  it  is  supposed  that  two  three-year-olds, 
carrying  the  same  weight,  would  run  a  mile-and-a-half;  and  come  in 
abreast,  it  is  said,  that  '-the  form"  of  the  one  is  equal  to  that  of 
the  other.  It  is  necessary,  therefore,  in  order  to  make  a  descrip- 
tion intelligible,  when  using  the  term  in  its  mechanical  significa- 
tion, to  add  the  adjective,  external,  although,  at  first  sight,  it  may 
appear  to  be  an  instance  of  tautology,  for  it  might  be  alleged  that 
internal  forms  can  only  be  ascertained  by  dissection.  With  this 
explanation,  I  must  now  proceed  to  discuss  what  are  generally  con- 
sidered to  be  the  best  shapes,  for  the  purpose  of  combining  speed 
with  stoutness,  remembering  that  we  are  examining  the  thorough- 
bred horse,  and  are  not  alluding  to  any  other.  As  an  instance  of 
a  very  opposite  conformation  to  that  of  Fisherman  at  page  62,  I 
insert  here  a  portrait  of  Saunterer,  both  after  careful  paintings  by 


Mr.  Bafrand.  These  are  generally  admitted  to  have  been  the  two 
best  horses  of  their  time,  yet  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  imagine  a 
greater  difference  to  exist  in  first-class  animals,  than  is  displayed 
by  them.  Fisherman,  short  and  strong,  looks  more  like  a  hunter 
than  a  racehorse ;  while  Saunterer,  long  and  elegant,  appears  in- 


EXTERNAL  FORMATION  65 

capable  of  carrying  more  than  ten  stone.  The  student  will  do 
well  to  study  these  animals  carefully,  but  it  must  not  be  omitted 
that  the  portrait  of  Fisherman  was  taken  after  he  was  thrown  out 
of  training. 

THE  BODY  or  trunk  is  the  grand  centre  of  all  the  muscular  pul- 
lies  and  bony  levers,  which  are  used  to  move  the  horse,  and  it 
must,  therefore,  first  come  under  consideration,  although,  as  a 
matter  of  convenience,  the  horseman  generally  commences  with 
the  head.  It  is  quite  true  that  it  in  turn  receives  its  orders  from 
the  brain,  as  will  be  hereafter  explained,  in  treating  of  the  nervous 
system,  but  as  a  mere  machine  it  may  be  regarded  independently 
of  that  organ  altogether.  It  must,  however,  be  viewed  in  three 
different  aspects,  inasmuch  as  it  has  three  different  offices  to  per- 
form. These  are,  first,  to  carry  its  load,  and  propel  it  by  means 
of  the  levers  connected  with  it.  Secondly,  to  afford  room  for  the 
heart  and  lungs  to  perform  their  functions  in  its  "  chest,"  without 
interfering  with  the  play  of  the  shoulders ;  and,  thirdly,  to  lodge 
an  efficient  apparatus  of  nutrition.  The  first  of  these  divisions 
comprehends  THE  BACK,  LOINS,  AND  CROUP  ;  the  second  is  THE 
CHEST  ;  and  the  third  may  be  considered  under  the  head  of  THE 

BACK-RIBS.  FLANK,  AND  BELLY. 

THE  BACK,  LOINS,  AND  CROUP  of  the  race-horse,  as  indeed  of 
all  horses  but  those  used  exclusively  for  draught,  are  generally 
described  as  necessarily  moulded  more  or  less  in  the  form  of  an 
arch.  Every  architect  is  aware  that  this  formation  is  best  adapted 
to  carry  weight.  A  straight-backed  greyhound  is  by  some  expe- 
rienced coursers,  preferred  to  one  which  has  a  slight  arch  in  that 
part ;  but  in  this  animal  there  is  no  weight  to  be  carried  beyond 
that  of  his  own  carcase,  and,  therefore,  even  granting  the  supe- 
riority in  him  of  a  straight  loin  (which  I  do  not),  there  is  no 
analogy  between  the  two  animals.  Nor  do  I  believe  altogether  in 
the  received  theory  which  attaches  importance  to  the  arched  loin, 
because  of  its  greater  capacity  for  bearing  weight  from  its  mechani- 
cal form.  Practically  I  concede,  as  an  admitted  fact,  that  a  horse 
with  this  construction  of  frame  will  carry  weight  better  than  one 
which  has  a  hollow  loin ;  but,  on  examining  the  skeleton  of  each, 
it  will  be  seen  that  in  neither  are  the  bodies  of  the  vertebrae  in 
this  part  of  the  spine  arranged  so  as  to  form  an  arch,  or  if  there 
is  one,  it  has  its  concavity,  not  its  convexity  upwards,  which  cer- 
tainly will  not  conduce  to  its  weight-bearing  powers.  The  fact 
really  is,  that  in  the  arched  loin  the  spinous  processes  are  unusually 
long,  and  are  raised  into  a  crest  like  the  high  withers.  By  this 
development  of  bone  an  extra  space  is  afforded,  for  both  the  lodg- 
ment and  attachment  of  muscles,  and  herein  is  the  secret  of  the 
extra  power.  Between  the  pelvis  and  the  bodies  of  the  vertebrae 
a  true  arch  is  formed,  and  according  to  the  slope  or  fall  of  the 
6*  E 


66  THE  HORSE. 

quarters  will  it  be  useful  in  carrying  weight;  but  this  is  quite 
irrespective  of  the  loin,  which  may  be  arched  or  flat  in  conjunction 
with  either  formation.  It  is,  however,  most  common  to  find  an 
arched  loin  united  with  an  inclined  pelvis,  and  when  the  two  are 
found  together,  the  horse  possessing  this  formation  may  be  con- 
sidered so  far  as  "  up  to  weight."  Sometimes  we  see  the  pelvis 
inclined,  but  the  tail  set  on  high,  and  the  loin  hollow,  and  then  we 
may  surely  predicate  that  there  will  be  a  want  of  power  in  these 
parts,  and  that  the  seven  stone  of  Lord  Redesdale  will  be  quite 
sufficient  for  the  animal  to  carry.  With  this  objectionable  shape, 
there  is  a  hollow  on  each  side  of  the  croup,  which  is  very  charac- 
teristic of  the  defect,  and  which  is  carefully  eschewed  by  the  expe- 
rienced horseman.  If  the  spine  between  the  two  supports  afforded 
by  the  fore  and  hind  extremities  were  really  an  arch,  length  would 
but  little  affect  it,  for  we  know  that  an  arch  of  ninety  feet  span,  is 
no  stronger  than  one  of  a  hundred  feet,  if  both  are  properly  con- 
structed; but  being  nearly  a  straight  line,  with  its  component  parts 
kept  in  their  proper  places,  by  a  series  of  levers  and  pullies,  length 
tells  most  unfavorably;  and  "  a  short  back,  with  plenty  of  length 
below,"  is  the  height  of  the  horseman's  ambition  to  possess. 

Mr.  Percivall  has  fallen  into  a  strange  error  in  estimating  tne 
advantages  of  a  long  back,  as  may  be  readily  seen  on  an  examina- 
tion of  the  following  passage  : — "  Regarding  the  dorsal  portion  of 
the  spine,  with  its  superimposed  burthen,  as  a  pole  or  lever,  sup- 
ported in  front  by  the  fore  limbs,  and  behind  by  the  back  limbs, 
after  the  manner  of  a  barrel  of  beer,  or  a  sedan  between  its  bearers; 
it  is  manifest,  that  the  greater  its  length,  the  greater  must  be  the 
leverage,  and  consequent  reduction  of  the  weight  of  the  burthen. 
On  this  principle,  the  legs  of  the  long-backed  horse  are  actually 
sustaining  less  load  than  those  of  the  short-backed  horse,  even 
though  their  riders  or  burthens  may  be  of  equivalent  weights,  from 
the  circumstance  of  their  operating  at  a  greater  distance  from  the 
load."  The  fallacy  of  this  argument  is  apparent  to  every  person 
who  has  the  slightest  knowledge  of  mechanical  powers;  but  as  my 
readers  may  not  at  all  be  in  a  position  to  estimate  its  value,  I  shall 
just  make  a  few  observations  upon  it,  as  I  have  heard  it  adduced 
on  several  occasions,  to  support  the  advantage  of  a  long  back.  Now 
we  will  suppose  a  weight  of  500  pounds  on  a  plank,  supported  upon 
four  props,  two  being  five  feet  from  the  other  two,  and  the  pairs 
one  foot  apart,  resembling,  in  fact,  the  relative  position  of  the  feet 
of  a  horse.  Let  the  whole  be  arranged  on  a  weighing  machine,  so 
that  only  the  four  legs  touch  its  table,  and  take  the  weight.  Then 
remove  the  two  pairs  of  legs  to  a  distance  of  six  feet,  and  again 
take  the  weight.  According  to  Mr.  Percivall  it  ought  to  be  less 
than  before,  but,  tested  by  actual  experiment,  there  will  not  be  the 
hundredth  part  of  a  grain  variation,  even  if  the  instrument  is  suffi- 


EXTERNAL  FORMATION.  67 

ciently  delicate  to  register  that  weight.  A.  and  B.  carry  a  weight 
between  them,  suspended  to  a  pole,  and  they  find  it  more  conve- 
nient to  have  that  pole  tolerably  long,  because  they  can  shift  the 
weight  from  one  to  the  other  more  easily  than  with  a  shorter  one, 
but  they  carry  the  same  weight  in  either  case.  A.  can  raise  it  by 
means  of  his  long  lever  more  easily  than  with  a  short  one,  but  he 
can  only  effect  this  by  making  use  of  B/s  hand  as  a  fulcrum,  and 
for  the  moment  throwing  the  weight  off  himself  upon  it,  while  B. 
returns  the  compliment  in  his  turn,  and  both  are  relieved.  For 
the  mere  purpose  of  carrying  weight,  therefore,  a  short  back  is  to 
be  preferred ;  but  there  is  a  limitation  put  to  this  by  the  necessity 
for  length  of  limb  to  give  pace,  and  if  the  legs  are  too  long  for  the 
back,  the  action  of  the  fore-quarter  is  impeded  by  the  hind,  and 
vice  versa.  Hence,  in  all  horses,  a  reasonable  length  is  preferred, 
and  this  will  vary  according  to  the  occasion  for  weight-carrying 
power.  In  the  thorough-bred  horse,  pace  is  essential,  and  his  back 
must  consequently  be  of  sufficient  length  to  allow  the  free  use  of 
such  limbs  as  will  give  stride  enough  to  develop  it.  We  shall 
hereafter  find,  that  the  cart-horse  may  have  a  much  shorter  back, 
even  though  he  has  no  weight  to  carry,  but  he  requires  strong 
couplings  of  the  hind  and  fore-quarter  for  the  former  to  act  upon, 
in  dragging  heavy  weights,  and  as  in  him  pace,  beyond  the  walk, 
is  never  required,  a  short  back  may  be  allowed  to  be  a  great  advan- 
tage, without  any  attendant  evil. 

The  most  important  elements  of  strength  in  the  back  and  loins 
are  the  depth  and  breadth  of  its  muscles,  for  they,  'and  not  the 
bones,  as  I  have  shown,  are  the  real  mechanical  means  by  which 
not  only  weight  is  carried  but  propelled.  Now  to  lodge  these  mus- 
cles, there  must  be  high  spinous  processes,  wide  hips,  and  such  a 
formation  of  the  ribs  as  to  give  width  at  their  upper  parts.  Gene- 
rally speaking  the  two  last  coincide,  but  sometimes  the  hips  stand 
out  in  a  very  "ragged"  or  prominent  position,  while  the  ribs  are 
flat.  This  formation,  however,  comes  next  to  the  most  approved 
combination,  and  is  far  better  than  the  narrow  hips  and  flat  sides 
which  we  now  see  in  too  many  of  our  thorough-bred  horses.  In 
connection  with  this  division  of  the  body  may  be  taken  the  croup, 
the  upper  outline  of  which  is  formed  by  the  prolongation  of  the 
spine  towards  the  root  of  the  tail ;  but  the  essential  parts  are  made 
up  by  the  pelvis.  It  is  very  generally  assumed  that  in  order  to 
develop  high  speed,  the  pelvis  must  be  long,  and  this  I  believe  to 
be  perfectly  true ;  but  the  length  need  not  be  in  a  perfectly  hori- 
zontal direction,  and  is  I  think  much  better  if  developed  at  an 
inclination  of  about  twenty-five  degrees,  that  is  to  say,  with  a  con- 
siderable fall.  With  this  formation  there  may  be  the  same  length 
for  the  attachment  of  muscles,  and  the  same  leverage  in  their  action 
on  the  thigh,  for  the  situation  of  the  hip  joint  (or  round  bone)  is 


68  THE  HORSE. 

not  altered  in  relation  to  them,  though  it  is  lower  and  more  forward 
in  reference  to  the  spine.  Hence  the  muscles  which  draw  the 
thigh  forward  have  more  power,  and  also  act  much  more  quickly, 
giving  that  rapid  thrust  of  the  hind  legs  forward  which  is  essential 
to  good  and  strong  action.  With  the  perfectly  horizontal  croup 
you  may  have  a  long  sweeping  stroke  which  tells  over  such  a  course 
as  Newmarket,  but  you  very  rarely  meet  with  a  quick  coupling  and 
uncoupling,  unless  the  pelvis  is  set  on  the  sacrum  or  continuation 
of  the  spine,  at  a  considerable  angle,  so  as  to  give  the  quarters 
more  or  less  droop.  Most  of  our  best  horses  have  exhibited  this 
formation,  wrhile  a  great  number  of  very  handsome,  but  utterly 
useless  brutes,  might  be  enumerated  which  possess  the  high  croup 
of  the  Arab  in  an  exaggerated  condition,  of  which  Mr.  Gratwick's 
Ethiopian  is  a  good  example.  If  the  portraits  of  the  Godolphin 
Barb  are  at  all  to  be  depended  on,  we  are  indebted  to  him  for  the 
introduction  of  this  useful,  though  not  particularly  elegant  shape, 
and  I  believe  that  it  is  in  this  direction,  and  in  point  of  size,  that 
he  has  been  so  useful  in  the  stud.  The  eye  is  captivated  by  the 
animal,  which,  as  the  dealers  say,  "  has  both  ends  up  ;"  and  expe- 
rience teaches  every  horseman,  who  will  profit  by  it,  that  both  the 
stargazer  and  the  high-crouped  horse  are  to  be  avoided.  In  select- 
ing the  thorough-bred  horse,  then,  choose  such  as  have  a  deep  and 
wide  back  and  loin,  avoiding  either  the  "  roach  back,"  which  causes 
that  part  to  be  inflexible,  and  the  hollow  one,  which  tends  to  give 
way  too  much  under  weight,  but  regarding  as  most  desirable  such 
a  width  of  ribs  and  hips,  and  depth  of  spinous  processes  as  shall 
give  sufficient  lodgment  for  muscles,  and  looking  also  for  a  proper 
length  of  spine,  not  too  short  for  stride,  nor  too  long  for  strength. 
Lastly,  let  the  pelvis  be  attached  at  such  an  angle  as  to  give  a  slight 
droop  to  the  quarters,  whether  the  tail  be  set  on  in  correspondence 
with  it  or  not,  for  the  dock  does  not  always  come  out  of  the  pelvis 
in  the  same  position  viewed  in  relation  to  that  part  alone 

Some  of  the  above  opinions  are  in  opposition  to  those  of  Mr. 
Percivall,  who  objects  to  a  great  width  of  hip  in  the  race-horse, 
and  also  asserts  that  he  cannot  be  too  lengthy  and  straight  in  his 
quarters.  He  says,  "  Although  the  race-horse  may  prove  disadvan- 
tageously  broad  across  his  hips,  I  believe  he  will  never  be  found 
either  too  lengthy  or  too  straight  in  his  quarters;  by  which  I  mean 
^the  length  and  elevation  of  an  imaginary  line  carried  from  either 
hip  to  the  point  of  his  quarter,  or  of  another  carried  from  the  sum- 
mit of  his  rump  to  the  root  of  his  hock.  Such  straight  formation 
of  quarter  implies  small  degree  of  inclination  in  the  position  of  the 
pelvis,  the  eft'ect  of  which  is  extension  of  the  angles  between  the 
pelvis  and  the  femoral  bones,  and  corresponding  increase  of  the  dis- 
tances between  the  pelvis  and  the  stifles  in  front,  and  between  the 
pelvis  and  hocks  behind;  thereby  augmenting  the  dimensions  of 


EXTERNAL  FORM4g3Oi£^  69 


the  muscles  running  between  these  salient  points,  and  at  the  same 
time  furnishing  them  with,  under  the  circumstances,  the  greatest 
advantages  in  their  action.  Length  and  straightness  in  the  quar- 
ters must  therefore  be  regarded  as  characteristic  attributes  of  the 
race-horse."  Of  the  probability  of  meeting  with  too  great  a  width 
of  hip  in  the  race-horse  I  am  extremely  doubtful,  and  until  I  see 
it  I  shall  continue  sceptical.  The  Melbournes,  which  have  this 
part  wider  than  in  any  other  strain,  are  certainly  not  to  be  despised, 
and,  in  spite  of  Mr.  Percivall,  I  must,  on  the  contrary,  continue  to 
admire  them,  whenever  they  are  to  be  found  ;  my  chief  regret  is, 
that  wide  hips  are  so  scarce  among  the  descendants  of  that  horse. 

THE    SECOND    DIVISION    OF    THE    BODY,  OR    THE    CHEST,  in  the 

thorough-bred  horse,  must  afford  sufficient  room  for  the  heart  and 
lungs,  but  it  must  not  be  too  wide,  or  it  will  interfere  with  the  free 
play  of  the  shoulder-blade  as  it  glides  on  the  side.  An  open  bosom 
is  regarded  as  a  sure  sign  of  want  of  pace  by  every  racing  man  of 
experience,  and  I  know  of  no  single  exception.  One  of  the  finest  two- 
year  olds  I  ever  saw  in  every  other  respect  was  Lord  Standbroke's 
Hose  de  Florence  ;  but  I  could  have  laid  any  reasonable  odds  that 
she  would  be  deficient  in  pace,  because  she  was  made  as  wide  as  a 
cart-horse  between  the  forelegs,  and  so  she  proved  to  be  on  trial. 
A  horse  of  fifteen  hands  three,  or  sixteen  hands  when  in  stud  con- 
dition should  measure  at  least  seventy-four  inches,  and  should  be 
wide  through  the  part  where  the  rider's  knees  come  on  the  saddle; 
but  below  this  the  ribs  should  rapidly  shelve  inwards,  and  in  this 
way  allow  the  shoulder  points  to  come  closer  together,  and  the 
elbows  to  act  without  being  "  tied."  The  anatomy  of  this  part  is 
treated  of  elsewhere,  and  1  am  now  regarding  it  simply  in  propor- 
tion to  the  rest  of  the  body.  Anatomically,  and  considered  per  se, 
a  round  or  barrel-like  chest  is  the  best,  because  it  admits  of  more 
free  expansion  and  contraction,  but  when  either  high  speed  or 
smooth  action  is  required,  this  formation  is  objectionable  for  the 
reasons  I  have  given  above,  and  in  all  cases  it  is  to  be  avoided  in 
the  thorough-bred  horse,  while  in  some  other  breeds  it  must  be 
looked  for  with  great  anxiety.  It  has  been  proved  that  good  wind 
may  be  obtained  from  a  chest  possessing  great  depth  without  much 
width,  and  in  some  cases  with  a  very  narrow  bosom,  as  in  the  cele- 
brated Crucifix  (dam  of  Priam)  ;  and  as  the  opposite  proportions 
are  incompatible  with  speed,  they  must  on  that  account  be  alto- 
gether rejected.  THE  WITHERS  are  generally  thin,  and  sometimes 
raised  quite  into  a  razor-like  form,  which,  however,  is  a  defect,  as 
it  is  attended  with  no  advantages  to  counterbalance  the  difficulty 
which  it  presents  in  the  way  of  the  saddler,  who  is  constantly  being 
called  on  to  prevent  his  tree  hurting  the  horse's  back.  A  mode- 
rate development  of  the  spinous  processes  is  required  to  give  attach- 
ment to  the  muscles  which  support  the  neck  and  move  the  shoulder, 


70  THE  HORSE. 

but  the  excessive  height  which  we  sometimes  see  is  not  of  the 
slightest  avail  for  this  purpose 

THE  NEXT  AND  LAST  COMPONENT  PARTS  of  the  body  are  THE 
BACK-RIBS,  FLANK,  AND  BELLY.  Here  we  have  chiefly  to  consider 
the  proper  lodgment  of  the  organs  of  nutrition ;  but  there  is  also 
the  junction  of  the  fore  and  hind  quarters  to  come  under  review. 
For  both  these  purposes  the  back-ribs  should  be  long,  or,  as  such 
a  formation  is  generally  called,  "  deep,"  so  as  not  only  to  give  pro- 
tection to  the  contents  of  the  belly,  but  to  afford  a  strong  attach- 
ment to  the  muscles  which  connect  the  chest  to  the  hips.  The 
space,  also,  between  the  latter  and  the  last  rib  should  not  be  large, 
or  there  will  be  an  element  of  weakness ;  but  if  too  limited,  the 
action  in  the  gallop  will  be  confined,  arid  the  hind  legs  will  not  be 
brought  sufficiently  forward.  About  the  breadth  of  the  hand  is 
the  proper  allowance  to  make  for  this  space  in  a  horse  of  average 
size  and  make,  and  either  more  or  less  than  this  may  be  considered 
a  defect.  To  obtain  this  formation,  the  ribs  themselves  must  be 
set  wide  apart,  and  not  huddled  up  together,  as  you  sometimes  see, 
leaving  a  great  space  between  the  last  and  the  hip.  When  the 
back-ribs  are  long,  the  lower  outline  of  the  belly  swells  consider- 
ably below  the  level  of  the  girth-place,  and  a  very  elegant  shape 
is  developed,  as  well  as  one  generally  united  with  a  hardy  consti- 
tution. Sometimes,  it  is  true,  the  two  are  not  combined,  and  now 
and  then  we  meet  with  a  very  good  feeder  and  robust  animal  with 
shallow  back  ribs ;  but  the  rule  may  be  considered  to  be  as  I  have 
stated  it,  and  the  purchaser  will  do  well  to  attend  to  it  in  making 
his  selection,  when  he  knows  nothing  of  the  character  of  the  indi- 
vidual. For  fast  road-work,  where  the  failure  of  the  legs  is  gene- 
rally the  limit  to  the  amount  of  work,  a  very  heavy  carcase  is  an 
objection,  as  it  increases  the  weight  upon  them  ;  and  an  overtopped 
harness-horse — that  is,  one  with  a  body  too  big  for  his  legs — is  a 
most  worthless  brute ;  but  in  the  thorough-bred  there  is  seldom 
this  formation,  and  the  tendency  is,  on  the  other  hand,  to  be  too 
light  in  the  flank,  rather  than  too  deep.  A  light-carcased  or 
herring-gutted  horse  when  "  set"  for  the  race-course  or  the  fast 
hunting  country  looks  cut  in  two,  and  his  performances  generally 
correspond  with  his  appearance. 

PROJECTING  FORWARD  with  a  beautiful  sweep,  the  neck  comes 
out  of  the  chest  in  this  kind  of  horse  with  a  most  elegant  outline. 
Of  a  greater  length  than  in  any  other,  it  is  also  proportionally 
thin;  but  both  these  dimensions  may  easily  be  exaggerated,  a  very 
long  and  thin  neck  being  objectionable,  and  rarely  corresponding 
with  good  wind.  The  lines  resemble  greatly  those  of  the  neck  of 
the  gamecock ;  and  when  there  is  a  decided  angle  about  three  or 
four  inches  from  the  jaw,  the  horse  is  said  to  be  "  cock-throppled," 
and  it  is  then  generelly  supposed  that  he  is  more  than  usually 


EXTERNAL  FORMATION.  71 

liable  to  become  a  roarer  or  a  whistler.  The  curve  of  this  part  a 
good  deal  depends  upon  the  breaking  and  subsequent  riding,  differ- 
ent hands  producing  a  great  variation  in  the  carriage ;  but  if  the 
bones  are  so  formed  and  connected  together  that  the  natural  curve 
has  its  concavity  upwards,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  produce  a 
proper  bend  in  the  other  direction,  though  still  much  may  be  ac- 
complished by  perseverance.  A  "ewe  neck/'  as  this  is  called,  is 
very  objectionable  on  this  account;  but  it  is  very  often  combined 
with  speed,  fine  action,  and  great  gameness.  More  depends  upon 
the  junction  between  the  head  and  neck,  than  upon  the  latter  in 
itself,  for  by  long-continued  perseverance,  it  may  be  made  so  supple 
as  to  bend  at  the  rider's  will ;  but  if  the  jaws  are  too  narrow  to 
allow  the  head  to  bend  upon  the  neck,  no  means  that  can  be  ap- 
plied will  make  any  impression,  and  the  result  is  that  the  mouth  is 
spoiled,  and  frequently  the  temper  also.  A  large  and  free  wind- 
pipe, that  is,  one  of  sufficient  diameter  for  the  passage  of  air,  and 
not  tied  down  by  any  bands  of  fascia,  will  be  necessary  for  good 
wind;  and  this  point  should  specially  be  examined. 

IN  THE  HEAD  is  contained  the  organ  of  intelligence,  which  is 
also  the  chief  seat  of  that  nervous  energy  which  animates  the 
whole  body.  Here  also  are  the  eyes,  and  the  external  apertures  of 
the  breathing  apparatus ;  so  that  the  form  of  this  part  of  the  body 
is  of  great  importance.  Size  is  power,  and,  cseteris  paribus,  a  large 
brain  is  to  be  regarded  as  a  most  valuable  adjunct.  Hence  the 
head  should  be  wide  above  the  eyes,  as  well  as  between  the  ears, 
and  somewhat  full  or  projecting  in  the  forehead  also,  in  order  to 
give  lodgment  to  a  brain  of  good  volume.  It  is  the  great  develop- 
ment of  this  organ  in  the  thorough-bred  and  his  Eastern  relations, 
that  gives  the  extraordinary  stoutness  and  fire  for  which  they  are 
so  remarkable;  and  therefore  a  horse  of  this  breed  deficient  in 
volume  of  brain  will  be  found  in  these  respects  no  better  than  his 
low-bred  rivals.  In  every  other  part,  the  weight  should  be  reduced 
to  the  minimum  necessary  for  carrying  on  the  functions  peculiar 
to  it,  save  only  the  eye,  a  very  small  one  being  generally  found  to 
be  prone  to  disease.  The  thorough-bred  horse  has  a  beautifully 
full  and  gazelle-like  eye;  but  in  this  organ  many  half-bred  animals 
are  quite  equal  to  him — the  eye  of  the  cart-horse,  however,  show- 
ing the  opposite  extreme.  A  very  prominent  or  unnaturally  con- 
vex eye,  called  a  '•  buck  eye,"  is  not  to  be  regarded  as  desirable, 
being  an  evidence  of  shortness  of  sight,  and  therefore  not  to  be 
confounded  with  the  full  and  soft  expression  indicative  of  good 
manners,  high  courage  when  roused,  and  soundness.  Next  to  the 
eyes  in  importance  are  the  nostrils,  which  should  be  open,  and 
when  the  horse  has  gallopped  should  stand  out  stiffly,  showing  the 
red  lining  membrane,  and  admitting  the  air  freely.  Of  course, 
even  the  smallest  nostrils  are  of  larger  area  than  the  windpipe; 


72  THE  HORSE. 

but  there  is  generally  a  coincidence  between  their  size  and  that  of 
the  internal  passages  higher  up,  and  on  that  account  a  patent  nos- 
tril is  to  be  looked  for  with  some  anxiety.  I  have  known  some 
horses  with  small  nostrils  possess  excellent  wind,  because  in  them 
the  internal  conformation  was  of  full  size,  and  if,  as  I  before  re- 
marked, the  area  of  the  two  nostrils  together  is  always  much 
greater  than  that  of  the  windpipe,  they  cannot  in  themselves  offer 
any  impediment  to  breathing.  Without  a  trial,  however,  as  the 
internal  passages  cannot  be  measured,  the  size  of  the  nostrils  must 
be  accepted  as  the  best  guide  to  that  of  the  more  essential  parts, 
and  practically  this  is  sufficient  for  general  purposes,  only  inferior 
to  an  actual  trial.  The  ears  should  be  moderately  long,  thin,  and 
not  inclined  to  '•  lop."  The  muzzle  should  be  fine;  but  in  those 
very  pointed  jaws,  which  their  owners  regard  with  so  much  pride, 
as  "  small  enough  to  drink  out  of  a  quart  pot,"  the  nostrils  are 
seldom  large  enough,  and  hence  they  are  to  be  regarded  with  great 
suspicion,  beautiful  as  they  undoubtedly  are.  A  slight  concavity 
in  the  front  line,  descending  from  the  forehead  to  the  front  of  the 
muzzle,  is  regarded  as  a  mark  of  breeding,  and,  if  not  too  marked, 
deservedly  so;  but  a  very  deep  concavity  is  often  attended  with  a 
vicious  temper.  Lastly,  a  lean  and  wide  lower  jaw  should  not  be 
omitted  as  a  grand  desideratum ;  the  former  point  is  merely  a  sign 
of  breeding,  but  the  latter  is  (as  I  before  remarked  in  describing 
the  neck)  essential  to  the  proper  bending  of  the  one  part  on  the 
other.  The  experienced  horseman  always  passes  his  fingers  be- 
tween the  angles,  and  if  there  is  not  plenty  of  room,  he  knows  that 
the  head  cannot  be  well  carried,  and  he  is  inclined  to  suspect  that 
the  larynx  will  be  impeded  in  its  functions,  and  that,  consequently, 
respiration  will  be  affected  either  by  roaring,  whistling,  or  some  or 
other  of  the  many  forms  of  "  making  a  noise."  With  all  these 
dimensions,  which  may,  comparatively,  readily  be  described,  there 
should  be  combined  a  cheerful  and  airy  expression  of  countenance, 
without  any  appearance  of  vice.  The  thorough-bred  horse  is  not 
often  too  sluggish,  and  it  is  not  in  that  direction  that  we  should 
look  for  infirmities  of  temper ;  nor  is  it  easy  to  describe  the  marks 
or  signs  by  which  vice  of  any  kind  can  be  at  once  recognised  from 
the  mere  expression.  Still  the  horseman  will  do  well  to  study  the 
countenance  of  this  as  well  as  other  breeds  of  horses,  and  he  will 
find,  in  course  of  time,  that  no  little  assistance  will  be  derived 
from  it. 

THE  SHOULDER-BLADE  is,  like  the  head,  peculiarly  formed  in 
the  Eastern  horse,  having  greater  obliquity  in  its  position,  and  a 
superior  length  and  breadth,  as  compared  with  all  others.  For  the 
reasons  which  may  be  alleged  for  the  desirability  of  these  character- 
istics, I  must  refer  to  pages  21-22,  where  I  have  already  given  them. 
Suffice  it  to  observe,  that  an  obliquely-placed  and  broad  blade,  well 


EXTERNAL  FORMATION.  73 

clothed  with  muscles,  is  the  desirable  formation  of  this  part,  added 
to  a  well-developed  "  point/'  as  the  prominence  at  the  joint  between 
the  blade  and  true  arm-bone  is  called  by  the  horseman.  If  this  is 
too  level  and  smooth,  the  muscles  which  are  attached  to  it  have 
not  sufficient  leverage ;  while  if  it  is  very  ragged  and  prominent, 
it  is  a  mark  of  diseased  or  excessive  growth  of  bone,  arid  is  gene- 
rally attended  with  a  stiffness  of  the  part.  Indeed,  in  examining 
a  shoulder  blade,  freedom  of  action  is  to  be  regarded  much  more 
than  its  exact  position  when  at  rest ;  for  if  you  have  the  desired 
effect,  it  matters  not  (except  for  breeding  purposes)  whether  it  is 
exceptional  or  not  j  and,  as  a  matter  of  course,  it  is  better  to  have 
a  freely-playing  shoulder  which  when  at  rest  is  too  upright  than  a 
perfectly  formed  one  confined  to  its  place,  as  we  sometimes  see  it. 
The  oblique  shoulder-blade  is  specially  required  in  all  horses  which 
come  down  upon  their  fore  legs  after  a  spring,  whether  this  is  in 
the  gallop,  or  the  leap,  or  the  trot,  for  the  use  of  it  is  by  its  elas- 
ticity to  break  the  jar  which  is  thereby  occasioned.  The  upright 
form  is  stronger,  as  the  weight  is  placed  more  directly  over  the 
column  which  bears  it,  but  it  allows  of  less  elasticity  under  the 
sudden  shock  given  by  the  impetus  of  the  body  as  it  approaches 
the  earth,  and  for  this  reason  is  only  suited  to  the  slow  work  of  the 
cart-horse,  or  heavy  machiner.  In  conjunction  with  the  oblique, 
and  therefore  long  blade,  is  always  found  a  long  true  arm,  which 
is  sometimes  so  extended  backward  as  to  place  the  elbow  absolutely 
in  the  way  of  the  girths,  and  then  perhaps  may  be  considered  as 
too  long,  especially  as  it  throws  the  weight  of  the  fore-quarter 
much  in  front  of  the  fore  legs,  and  tends  to  make  the  horse  pos- 
sessing it  somewhat  unsafe,  unless  his  action  is  particularly  free. 
This  part  also  should  be  well  clothed  with  muscles. 

THE  FORE  ARM  OR  ARM,  as  it  is  generally  called,  is  not  re- 
markable for  any  great  peculiarities,  but  it  is  somewhat  larger  in 
proportion  to  the  cannon  bone  than  in  other  breeds. 

THE  KNEE  is  broad  and  deep,  from  before  backwards,  and  the 
leg  below  the  knee  is  peculiarly  free  from  that  contraction  or 
"  tying  in"  which  in  the  cart-horse  and  allied  breeds  is  so  objec- 
tionable, being  an  element  of  weakness  when  the  joint  is  exposed 
to  the  strains  incidental  to  fast  work  of  any  kind.  So  also  a  bend- 
ing backwards  of  the  joint  called  the  "calf-knee,"  common  in  the 
cart-horse,  is  condemned  in  the  race-horse  for  the  same  reason. 

THE  BONE  OF  THE  LEG  both  in  the  fore  and  hind-quarter  is 
small,  but  of  compact  substance,  while  the  suspensory  ligament 
and  back  sinew  are  so  large,  and  stand  out  so  freely,  as  to  appear 
to  form  quite  one-half  of  the  leg.  The  fetlock  joints  are  clean 
and  of  good  size,  the  pasterns  long  and  elastic,  and  the  feet  though 
small  as  compared  with  other  breeds,  yet  large  enough  for  the 
7 


74  THE  HORSE. 

weight  they  have  to  carry,  their  horny  covering  being  also  tough 
and  compact. 

IN  THE  HIND-QUARTER  the  Eastern  horse  and  his  descendants 
excel  all  others  in  symmetry  and  in  the  length  of  the  various  parts 
composing  it.  Comparing  the  cart-horse  with  the  subject  of  the 
present  investigation,  one  is  struck  with  the  greatly  increased 
length  of  the  thighs  of  the  latter,  approaching  almost  to  the  pro- 
portions of  the  greyhound.  In  the  cart-horse,  when  walking,  the 
stifle  joint  can  hardly  be  seen,  while  in  the  race-horse  it  is  brought 
out  prominently  at  every  step.  This  gives  the  stride  necessary  for 
pace,  and  the  fast  strain  of  blood  known  as  that  of  Selim,  and  his 
brothers  Castrel  and  Rubens,  possesses  this  peculiarity  in  a  marked 
manner,  though  from  the  high  position  of  the  stifle  in  them,  and 
their  straight  hocks,  many  people  lose  sight  of  this  peculiarity. 
With  regard  to  the  hocks  of  a  race-horse,  they  should  be  of  full 
size,  clean,  and  as  a  matter  of  course,  free  from  curbs  or  spavins. 
They  are  also  generally  considered  to  require  very  long  points,  that 
is  to  say,  the  projecting  lever  to  which  the  ham-string  is  attached 
should  be  long.  From  an  examination  of  many  race-horses  I  am 
satisfied  that  for  speed  this  may  be  over-done,  for  though  power  is 
gained  by  it,  quickness  is  sacrificed;  and  a  very  long  point  to  the 
hock  is  apt  to  give  long,  dull,  and  dwelling  action,  entirely  oppo- 
site to  quick  pace,  though  perhaps  telling  over  a  long  flat.  All 
are  agreed  that  the  gaskin  or  lower  thigh  must  be  muscular,  and 
both  for  beauty  and  effect  this  is  a  most  important  point.  In  other 
respects,  the  hind-quarter  of  the  thorough-bred  should  resemble 
that  of  any  other  variety  of  the  species. 

THE  WHOLE  of  these  points  should  be  in  proportion  to  one  an- 
other; that  is  to  say,  the  formation  of  the  horse  should  be  "  true." 
He  should  not  have  long  well-developed  hind-quarters,  with  an 
upright,  weak,  or  confined  fore-quarter.  Nor  will  the  converse 
serve,  for  however  well  formed  the  shoulder  may  be,  the  horse  will 
not  go  well  unless  he  has  a  similar  formation  in  the  propellers.  It 
is  of  great  importance,  therefore,  that  the  race-horse  should  have 
all  his  various  points  in  true  relative  development;  and  that  there 
shall  not  be  the  hind-quarter  of  a  long  racing-like  horse,  with  the 
thick  confined  shoulder  which  would  suit  a  stride  less  reaching  in 
its  nature.  A  remarkable  instance  of  the  advantages  of  such  a 
formation  is  exhibited  in  Saunterer,  whose  frame  is  not  charac- 
terized by  power  or  any  other  special  perfection,  but  being  per- 
fectly true  in  his  formation  he  was  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the  very 
best,  horse  of  his  year,  as  he  proved  by  his  various  achievements. 
At  page  64  will  be  found  an  engraving  of  him,  copied  from  one  of 
the  best  portraits  I  ever  saw,  by  Mr.  H.  Barraud,  which  should  be 
carefully  examined. 


HEIGHT— COLOR— COAT,  MANE,  AND  TAIL.  75 

HEIGHT. 

IN  HEIGHT  the  race-horse  varies  from  fifteen  hands  to  sixteen 
and  a  half,  or  even  seventeen  hands ;  but  the  general  height  of  our 
best  horses  is  about  fifteen  hands  three  inches.  Few  first-class 
performers  have  exceeded  the  height  of  Surplice,  who  is  sixteen 
hands  one  inch,  as  is  also  another  Derby  winner,  Wild  Dayrell. 
Sir  Tatton  Sykes  was  fifteen  and  a  half  hands ;  and  between  his 
height  and  that  of  Surplice  may  be  ranged  every  great  winner  for 
the  last  ten  or  twelve  years.  This  average,  therefore,  may  fairly  be 
laid  down  as  the  best  height  for  the  race-horse,  though  it  cannot 
be  denied  that  for  some  small  and  confined  courses — as,  for  in- 
stance, that  of  Chester,  a  smaller  horse  of  little  more  than  fifteen 
hands  height  has  a  better  chance,  as  being  more  capable  of  turn- 
ing round  the  constantly  recurring  angles  or  bends. 

COLOR. 

THE  COLOR  of  the  thorough-bred  horse  is  now  generally  bay, 
brown,  or  chestnut,  one  or  other  of  which  will  occur  in  ninety- 
nine  cases  out  of  a  hundred.  Gray  is  not  common,  but  sometimes 
appears,  as  in  the  recent  case  of  Chanticleer  and  many  of  his  stock. 
Black  also  occasionally  makes  its  appearance,  but  not  more  fre- 
quently than  gray.  Roans,  duns,  sorrels,  &c.,  are  now  quite  ex- 
ploded, and  the  above  five  colors  may  be  said  to  complete  the  list 
of  those  seen  on  the  race-course.  Sometimes  these  colors  are 
mixed  with  a  good  deal  of  white,  in  the  shape  of  blazes  on  the 
face,  or  white  legs  and  feet;  or  even  all  these  marks  may  occur, 
and  the  horse  may  have  little  more  than  his  body  of  a  brown,  bay, 
or  chestnut.  Most  people,  however,  prefer  a  self  color,  with  as 
little  white  as  possible ;  and  nothing  but  the  great  success  of  a 
horse's  stock  would  induce  breeders  to  resort  to  him  if  they  were 
largely  endowed  with  white.  Gray  hairs  mixed  in  the  coat,  as 
in  the  Venison's,  are  rather  approved  of  than  otherwise ;  but  they 
do  not  amount  to  a  roan,  in  which  the  gray  hairs  are  equal,  or  even 
more  than  that,  to  those  of  the  other  color  mixed  with  them. 

COAT,  MANE,  AND  TAIL. 

THE  TEXTURE  of  the  coat  and  skin  is  a  great  proof  of  high 
breeding,  and  in  the  absence  of  the  pedigree  would  be  highly  re- 
garded ;  but  when  that  is  satisfactory  it  is  of  no  use  descending  to 
the  examination  of  an  inferior  proof;  and,  therefore,  except  as  a 
sign  of  health,  the  skin  is  seldom  considered.  In  all  thorough- 
bred horses,  however,  it  is  thinner,  and  the  hair  more  silky  than 
in  common  breeds;  and  the  veins  are  more  apparent  under  the 
skin,  partly  from  its  thinness,  but  also  from  their  extra  size  and 
number  of  branches.  This  network  of  veins  is  of  importance  in 
allowing  the  circulation  to  be  carried  on  during  high  exertions, 


76  THE  HORSE. 

when,  if  the  blood  could  not  accumulate  in  them,  it  would  often 
choke  the  deep  vessels  of  the  heart  and  lungs ;  but  by  collecting 
on  the  surface  great  relief  is  afforded,  and  the  horse  is  able  to 
maintain  such  a  high  and  long-continued  speed  as  would  be  im- 
practicable without  their  help.  Hence,  these  points  are  not  useful 
as  a  mere  mark  of  breed,  but  as  essential  to  the  very  purpose  for 
which  that  breed  was  established. 

THE  MANE  AND  TAIL  should  be  silky  and  not  curly,  though  a 
slight  wave  is  often  seen.  A  decided  curl  is  almost  universally  a% 
mark  of  degradation,  and  shows  a  stain  in  the  pedigree  as  clearly 
as  any  sign  can  do.  Here,  however,  as  in  other  cases,  the  clear 
tracing  of  that  all-powerful  proof  of  breeding  will  upset  all  reason- 
ing founded  upon  inferior  data.  The  setting  on  of  the  tail  is  often 
regarded  as  of  great  importance,  but  it  is  chiefly  with  reference  to 
appearances ;  for  the  horse  is  not  dependent  for  action  or  power 
upon  this  appendage.  Nor  is  strength  of  dock  of  any  certain  value 
as  a  sign,  for  I  have  known  some  very  stout  horses  with  flaccid 
and  loosely  pendent  tails ;  but  still  it  may  be  accepted  as  a  general 
rule,  that  when  the  muscles  of  the  tail  are  weak,  those  of  the  rest 
of  the  body  are  likely  to  be  so  also. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

ON    THE    LOCOMOTIVE    ACTION    IN    THE   VARIOUS    PACES. 

Natural  and  Acquired  Paces — Distribution  of  Weight — Attitude 
assumed  in  Standing — Mode  of  Progression — The  Walk — 
Trot — Canter — Hand- Gallop — Extended  Gallop — The  Amble — 
Racking,  Pacing,  and  Running —  The  Paces  of  the  Manege — 
Leaping. 

NATURAL  AND  ACQUIRED  PACES. 

IN  A  STATE  OF  NATURE  it  is  probable  that  the  horse  only  pos- 
sesses two  paces,  namely,  the  walk  and  the  gallop ;  but  when  he  is 
the  produce  of  a  domesticated  sire  and  dam,  even  before  he  is 
handled,  he  will  generally  show  a  slight  tendency  to  trot,  and 
sometimes  to  amble,  rack,  or  pace,  if  any  of  his  progenitors  have 
been  remarkable  for  these  artificial  modes  of  progression.  In  this 
country,  however,  it  may  be  assumed  that  the  horse,  without  being 
taught,  walks,  toots,  and  gallops,  more  or  less  perfectly,  according 
to  his  formation  and  temperament. 

DISTRIBUTION  OF  WEIGHT. 

EXCEPT  IN  THE  GALLOP  AND  CANTER,  in  the  fast  trot,  and  in 
leaping,  the  weight  of  the  horse  is  borne  by  two  or  more  of  the  legs, 


DISTRIBUTION  OF  WEIGHT.  77 

and  we  shall  find  that  in  consequence  of  the  projection  forwards 
of  the  head  and  neck,  the  larger  moiety  is  sustained  by  the  fore 
leg  (or  legs)  than  by  the  hind.  This  can  easily  be  demonstrated 
in  the  act  of  standing ;  but  the  same  rule  which  applies  to  that 
position  will  also  serve  for  any  other. 

It  is  important  to  the  horsemaster  to  ascertain  the  circumstances 
which  will  change  these  proportions,  because  he  finds  practically 
that,  in  road  work,  the  fore  legs  wear  out  faster  than  the  hind,  and 
consequently  any  means  by  which  the  weight  on  them  can  be  re- 
duced will  be  a  gain  to  him  in  a  pecuniary  point  of  view.  M. 
Baucher  placed  a  horse  with  his  fore  and  hind  legs  on  separate 
weighing  machines,  and  found  that  a  hack  mare  when  left  to 
assume  her  own  attitude,  weighed  on  the  fore  scales  210  kilo- 
grammes, while  her  hind  quarters  drew  only  174,  the  total  weight 
of  the  animal  being  384  kilogrammes,  each  of  which  is  equal  to 
21bs.  2ozs.  4drs.  IGgrs.  avoirdupois.  By  depressing  the  head  so 
as  to  bring  the  nose  to  a  level  with  the  chest,  eight  additional 
kilogrammes  were  added  to  the  front  scales,  while  the  raising  of 
that  part  to  the  height  of  the  withers  transferred  ten  kilogrammes 
to  the  hindermost  scales.  Again,  by  raising  and  drawing  back  the 
head,  in  a  similar  way  to  the  action  of  the  bearing  rein,  eight  kilo- 
grammes were  transferred  from  the  fore  to  the  hind  scales,  and  this 
should  not  be  forgotten  in  discussing  the  merits  and  demerits  of 
that  much-abused  instrument  of  torture.  M.  Baucher  then  mounted 
the  mare,  when  it  was  found  that  his  weight,  which  was  sixty-four 
kilogrammes,  was  placed  in  the  proportion  of  forty-one  kilogrammes 
on  the  fore  quarters  to  twenty-three  on  the  hind.  A  considerable 
change  was  of  course  produced  by  leaning  backward,  and  by  using 
the  reins  in  the  manner  of  the  bearing  rein,  the  former  transfer- 
ring ten  kilogrammes  from  the  fore  to  the  hind  quarters,  and  the 
latter  act  adding  eight  more. 

EVERY  PRACTISED  horseman  knows  that  his  horse's  fore  legs 
will  suffer  in  proportion  to  the  weight  which  is  thrown  on  them, 
while  their  relief  is  an  additional  source  of  strain  to  the  hind  legs. 
The  spavined,  and  more  especially  the  curby-hocked  horse,  relieves 
these  parts  by  using  his  fore  legs  to  carry  more  than  their  proper 
proportion  of  weight,  while  the  animal  affected  with  any  painful 
disease  of  the  fore  limbs  carries  almost  all  the  weight  of  his  body 
on  his  hind  legs,  which  are  advanced  under  him  in  the  most  pecu- 
liar manner.  The  value  of  artificially  changing  the  natural  car- 
riage of  the  horse,  so  as  to  make  his  hind  legs  come  forward  and 
carry  more  than  their  own  share  of  weight,  is  chiefly  felt  in 
chargers,  hacks,  and  harness  horses,  while,  on  the  contrary,  it  is 
injurious  to  the  hunter  and  the  race-horse,  whose  hind  quarters 
bear  the  greatest  strain. 
7* 


78  THE  HORSE. 

THE  ATTITUDE   ASSUMED   IN   STANDING. 

STANDING  may  be  considered  under  two  heads,  the  first  com- 
prising the  attitude  naturally  assumed  by  the  horse  when  inclined 
to  rest  himself,  and  the  second  that  forced  upon  him  by  education, 
for  the  sake  either  of  appearances,  or  to  keep  him  ready  to  start  at 
a  moment's  notice,  as  in  the  cavalry  horse.  When  standing  free 
or  naturally  the  horse  always  rests  one  leg,  and  that  generally  a 
hind  one,  changing  from  one  to  the  other  as  each  becomes  tired  in 
its  turn.  In  the  forced  attitude  all  four  are  on  the  ground,  and 
each  supports  its  share  of  the  superincumbent  weight.  In  either 
case  the  different  joints  are  kept  from  bending,  by  the  almost  in- 
voluntary combined  action  of  the  flexor  and  extensor  muscles, 
which  will  keep  him  standing  even  in  sleep,  in  which  respect  he 
differs  from  the  human  subject.  The  oblique  position  of  the 
pasterns  affords  a  considerable  aid,  but  without  the  semi-involun- 
tary support  afforded  by  the  muscles,  the  stifle  and  hock  joints 
behind,  and  the  shoulder  and  elbow  before,  would  inevitably  give 
way. 

MODE  OF  PROGRESSION. 

IN  MOVING  FORWARD,  whatever  the  pace  may  be,  the  hind 
quarters  are  the  main  propellers,  and  thrust  the  body  forward  on 
the  fore  legs,  which  serve  as  imperfect  segments  of  wheels,  each  in 
its  turn  making  a  revolution  forwards  and  backwards  througli  a 
segment  of  a  circle,  like  a  pendulum.  This  forward  motion  is 
either  effected  by  one  hind  leg  at  a  time,  as  in  the  walk,  trot, 
amble,  and  rack,  or  by  the  two,  nearly  if  not  quite  synchronously, 
as  in  the  canter,  gallop,  and  leap.  In  any  case,  the  hind  legs  (or 
leg)  must  be  drawn  forwards  under  the  body,  or  the  body  thrust 
backwards  upon  them,  when  a  contraction  of  various  muscles  tends 
to  straighten  them,  and  as  they  are  fixed  upon  the  ground,  which 
acts  as  a  fulcrum,  the  body  must  give  way,  and  thus  passes  forward 
with  a  speed  and  force  proportionate  to  the  muscular  power  exerted. 
In  the  various  paces  this  mechanical  action  is  differently  effected 
in  detail,  but  the  principle  is  the  same  in  all  those  contained  in 
each  class  to  which  I  have  alluded.  In  the  first,  the  weight  is 
borne  by  the  hind  and  fore  quarters  between  them,  while  propul- 
sion is  effected  by  one  side  of  the  former ;  but  in  the  second,  it  is 
taken  at  intervals  by  the  fore  and  hind  limbs,  the  latter  propelling 
it  with  great  force,  and  the  former  serving  as  props  to  it  when  it 
comes  to  the  ground  from  the  air,  and  also  causing  it  to  rebound 
for  another  interval  of  time. 

THE  WALK. 

THERE  ARE  TWO  questions  involved  in  this  pace  which  have  led 
to  discussions  without  end.  Firstly,  there  is  that  connected  with 
the  order  of  sequence  in  which  the  feet  are  moved.  Secondly,  that 


THE  WALK.  79 

relating  to  the  part  of  the  foot  which  first  touches  the  ground. 
Of  each  of  these,  therefore,  I  must  enter  into  a  particular  de- 
scription. 

IN  EXAMINING  THE  ORDER  OF  SEQUENCE  in  which  the  feet  are 
taken  off  the  ground,  it  appears  to  me  that  a  very  simple  matter 
has  been  converted  into  a  complicated  one.  No  one  with  a  grain 
of  observation  can  dispute  that  all  the  four  legs  in  this  pace  move 
separately,  and  not,  as  in  the  trot  and  amble,  by  twos  of  opposite 
or  the  same  sides.  Solleysell,  however,  says  that  "  in  a  walk  the 
horse  lifts  the  near  fore  leg  and  far  hind  leg  together"  and  Perci- 
vall,  in  quoting  this  passage,  calls  him  "  this  true  observer  of  Na- 
ture ;"  but,  nevertheless,  the  latter  author  goes  on  to  disprove  the 
correctness  of  the  very  passage  he  has  just  quoted,  though  he  does 
not  seem  very  clear  upon  the  subject.  His  description  is  as  fol- 
lows : — "  At  the  mandate  of  the  will  to  move  forward,  the  fore  leg 
is  first  put  in  motion,  the  order  of  succession  in  the  walk  appearing 
to  be  this  : — supposing  the  right  or  off  fore  leg  to  move  first,  that  is 
no  sooner  carried  off  the  ground  than  the  left  or  near  hind  foot  is 
raised,  the  former  being  placed  upon  tlie  ground  prior  to  the  latter. 
The  two  remaining  feet  move  in  respect  to  each  other,  in  the  same 
order  of  lime,  the  left  or  near  fore  after  the  off  hind,  the  right  or 
off  hind  after  the  near  fore;  it  being  observable  that  as  each 
hind  foot  follows  in  the  line  of  movement  of  its  corresponding  fore 
foot,  the  latter  would  very  often  get  struck  by  the  former,  did  it 
not  quit  its  place  immediately  prior  to  the  other  being  placed  upon, 
partly  or  entirely,  the  same  ground."  Can  anything  be  more  con- 
fused than  this  jumble  of  words,  which  is  solely  so  because  it  i& 
desired  to  make  the  horse  begin  with  a  fore  foot  in  preference  to  a 
hind  one.  Any  one  who  examines  the  action  of  the  feet  of  one 
side  only  will  have  no  difficulty  in  perceiving  that  the  hind  foot  is 
raised  from  the  ground  and  moved  forward  for  half  its  stride  before 
the  fore  foot  is  disturbed,  the  same  order  being  observed  on  the  other 
side  in  succession.  Hence,  if  the  horse  is  started  from  the  stand- 
ing position  with  all  the  feet  on  the  ground,  it  follows  that  he  must 
begin  with  a  hind  foot,  because  with  whichever  of  the  sides  he 
starts  he  lifts  the  hind  foot  half  a  pace  before  the  fore  foot,  as  is 
admitted  by  Percivall  himself,  for  he  says,  "  the  latter  (fore  foot) 
would  often  get  struck  by  the  former  (hind  foot)  did  it  not  quit  its 
place  immediately  prior  to  the  other  being  placed  upon,  partly  or 
entirely,  the  same  ground."  It  is  very  difficult  to  convey  a  correct 
idea  of  this  fact  by  illustration,  because  the  eye  has  become  accus- 
tomed to  the  erroneous  view  which  is  conventionally  received  by 
artists.  However,  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Zwecker,  who  has 
himself  studied  the  subject  carefully,  I  am  enabled  to  present  the 
following  engraving,  which,  though  apparently  awkward  and  un- 
graceful, is  literally  correct.  Here  the  near  hiud  foot  (1)  is  just 


THE  HORSE. 


STARTING   FOR  THE  WALK. 


about  to  be  placed  on  the  ground,  on  the  spot  which  the  near  fore 
foot  (2)  has  just  left.  The  off  hind  foot  (3)  will  follow  next  in 
succession,  and  lastly  the  off  fore  foot  (4)  will  complete  the  ca- 
dence. But  if  each  fore  foot  leaves  the  ground  just  as  the  corres- 
ponding hind  foot  is  finishing  its  stride,  it  follows  as  a  matter  of 
necessity,  if  the  action  is  carried  on  throughout  in  the  same  way, 
that  in  starting  from  a  point  of  rest  the  hind  foot  of  one  side  or 
other  is  the  one  to  begin  the  walk.  Next  follows  the  fore  foot  on 
the  same  side,  then  the  opposite  hind  foot,  and  lastly  the  fore  foot 
of  the  opposite  side.  The  order  of  progression,  be  it  observed,  is 
the  same,  whether  the  description  commences  with  the  hind  or  fore 
foot,  and  the  argument  is  after  all  of  little  consequence ;  but  the 
truth  is  really,  as  was  observed  by  Borelli,  that  the  hind  foot  is  the 
first  to  move  when  the  horse  starts  into  a  walk  from  a  state  of  rest 
in  which  all  four  feet  are  placed  as  in  ordinary  standing.  There 
may  be  positions  in  grazing  where  the  fore  foot  advances  first ;  but 
then  the  pace  cannot  be  considered  as  the  customary  walk. 

IN  THE  ACCOMPANYING  OUTLINE  the  horse  is  represented  in 
the  manner  usually  accepted  by  artists,  with  the  near  fore  foot  (2) 
in  the  air,  and  apparently  leading  off.  But  if,  as  I  have  endeavored 
to  show,  the  hind  foot  must  of  necessity  start  first,  although  this 


THE  WALK. 


81 


4  1 

RECEIVED  INTERPRETATION  OF  THE  WALK. 


engraving  affords  to  the  eye  of  the  observer  the  most  graceful  and 
striking  position  which  is  taken  up  in  the  walk,  yet  it  is  not  the 
one  with  which  the  horse  commences  that  pace.  Here  the  near 
hind  foot  (1)  has  already  been  brought  forward  and  placed  on  the 
ground,  on  or  near  the  spot  occupied  by  the  fore  foot,  which  is  in 
the  air;  the  off  hind  foot  (3)  is  just  about  to  leave  the  ground, 
having  expended  its  share  of  progressive  force,  and  the  weight  of 
the  body  is  borne  by  the  off  fore  foot  and  the  near  hind  one. 
Whenever  a  fore  foot  starts  first  (which,  as  I  have  already  re- 
marked, may  occasionally  occur,  as,  for  instance,  in  grazing,  or 
when  the  weight  is  unnaturally  thrown  upon  the  fore  quarters), 
the  attitude  is  most  constrained,  and  the  proper  sequence,  or  ca- 
dence, if  the  animal  is  forced  into  a  quicker  pace,  is  not  fallen  into 
without  a  most  grotesque  degree  of  rolling,  which  conveys  to  the 
eye  a  full  idea  of  the  forced  nature  of  the  pace.  Mr.  Zwecker 
has  endeavored  to  fix  this  upon  paper  in  the  annexed  engraving, 
but  though  I  fully  admit  that  the  drawing  is  correct,  I  confess  that 
I  am  not  satisfied  with  the  result  of  his  labors.  However,  it  may 
serve  to  convey  to  my  readers  the  fact  which  I  wish  to  impress 


82  THE  HORSE. 

upon  the  mind,  viz.,  that  a  walk  in  which  either  fore  leg  com- 
mences the  cadence  is  unnatural,  or,  at  all  events,  exceptional. 

I  HAVE  THUS  ENDEAVORED  TO  SHOW  (and  it  may,  I  think,  be 
considered  as  the  most  simple  mode  of  describing  the  pace)  that, 
as  a  rule,  when  the  horse  is  starting  from  a  state  of  rest  into  a 
walk  he  commences  with  one  of  the  hind  feet,  the  particular  one 
chosen  being  that  which  at  the  time  bears  the  least  weight  of  the 
body  upon  it.  Next  follows  the  fore  foot  of  the  same  side,  then  the 
opposite  hind  foot,  and  lastly  the  fore  foot  also  of  the  opposite  side. 


4 

EXCEPTIONAL  MODE   OP  STARTING. 


WHEN  ONCE  IT  is  SHOWN  that  the  hind  foot  almost  touches 
the  heel  of  the  foot  which  precedes  it,  before  the  latter  is  raised, 
of  which  a  moment's  observation  will  satisfy  any  careful  observer.' 
the  order  of  sequence  becomes  clear  enough,  and,  as  I  set  out  with 
observing,  a  subject  which  is  generally  made  extremely  complicated 
becomes  as  simple  as  possible.  In  nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine 
cases  out  of  a  thousand  the  horse  starts  on  the  walk  with  a  hind 
foot,  and  the  only  exception  is  when  he  is,  from  circumstances,  at 
the  time  in  an  unnatural  attitude. 

THE  SECOND  QUESTION  in  dispute  to  which  I  have  alluded  is 
that  involving  the  part  of  the  foot  which  first  touches  the  ground 


THE  WALK.  83 

in  this  pace.  In  this  country  veterinary  writers  have  generally 
considered  that  in  the  sound  foot  the  toe  first  reaches  the  ground, 
and  undoubtedly  Mr.  Percivall  is  no  exception,  for  he  says  at  page 
143  of  his  Lectures,  "  To  the  eye  of  the  observer  there  is  the 
slightest  perceptible  difference  between  the  toe  and  heels  coming 
to  the  ground  in  favor  of  the  former,  a  difference  that  need  not 
disturb  the  horseman's  good  old  rule,  that  a  horse  in  his  walk 
should  place  his  foot  fairly  and  flatly  down."  This  theory  has, 
as  far  as  I  know,  never  been  admitted  by  practised  horsemen,  and 
in  the  year  1855,  in  describing  the  perfect  hack,  at  page  5-6  of 
"British  Hural  Sports,"  I  wrote  as  follows  :  "  The  walk  should  be 
safe  and  pleasant,  the  fore  foot  well  lifted  and  deposited  on  its 
heel."  The  first  veterinary  surgeon,  however,  who  combated  the 
opinions  of  his  brethren,  was  Mr.  Lupton  (a  disciple  of  Mr. 
Gamgee),  who  early  in  the  year  1858,  inserted  in  the  Edinburgh 
Veterinary  Review  the  following  "  Physiological  Reflections  on  the 
Position  assumed  by  the  Fore  Foot  of  the  Horse  in  the  varied 
Movements  of  the  Limb"  :— 

"  1.  The  foot  of  a  living  horse  in  a  state  of  rest  remains  firmly 
on  the  ground,  that  is  the  toe  and  the  heel  are  on  the  ground  at 
one  and  the  same  time  j  but  if  during  this  position  the  extensor 
muscles  were  to  contract,  then  the  toe  would  be  raised  from  the 
ground ;  and  if,  on  the  other  hand,  the  flexor  muscles  were  to 
contract,  then  the  heel  would  be  raised  from  the  ground.  Now, 
during  progression,  the  first  movement  w^iich  takes  place  is  the 
contraction  of  the  flexor  muscles,  by  which  (together  with  the 
muscles  of  the  arm)  the  foot  is  raised,  the  toe  being  the  last 
part  of  that  organ  raised  from  the  ground.  The  foot  is  now  in 
a  position  to  be  sent  forward,  which  is  brought  about  by  the 
contraction  of  the  extensor  muscles  j  the  foot  is  then  thrown  out 
as  far  as  the  flexor  muscles  will  admit,  and  when  at  the  greatest 
allowable  point  of  tension,  the  heel  is  brought  in  apposition  with 
the  ground.  The  flexors  now  in  their  turn  contract,  the  heel  is 
first  raised  from  the  ground,  and  lastly  the  toe,  which  brings  me 
back  to  the  point  T  started  from. 

"  2.  Viewing  the  leg  of  a  horse  as  a  piece  of  mechanism  (allow- 
ing the  leg  to  be  even  in  a  state  of  anchylosis),  and  comparing  it 
to  the  spoke  of  a  wheel,  during  the  revolutions  of  which  the  pos- 
terior part  of  the  inferior  extremity,  or,  in  other  words,  that  part 
which  is  attached  to  the  tier,  comes  in  contact  with  the  ground 
first ;  if  in  the  place  of  the  spoke  the  above-mentioned  leg  of  the 
horse  were  there  placed,  the  heel  in  that  case  would  come  in  con- 
tact with  the  ground  first,  and  the  toe  last. 

"  3.  As  to  the  anatomy  of  the  foot. 

"  The  foot  is  composed  of  the  os  pedis,  os  naviculare,  and  a 
small  portion  superiorly  of  the  os  corona.  Between  the  alae  of  the 


84  THE  HORSE. 

os  pedis  we  have  the  frog  and  the  fibrous  frog,  in  fact,  a  beautiful 
elastic  cushion ;  and  postero-laterally  the  lateral  cartilages,  readily 
yielding  on  the  application  of  pressure.  Seeing  this  arrangement, 
I  naturally  seek  to  find  the  cause  of  its  existence,  and  I  suggest 
that  it  is  there  in  order,  by  coming  in  contact  with  the  ground, 
first  to  break  the  concussive  effect,  likely,  if  being  hard  and  un- 
yielding as  the  formation  at  the  toe,  to  be  productive  of  much  cost 
to  the  animal  frame. 

"  4.  The  progress  of  action  is  from  the  heel  to  the  toe.  For 
example,  man,  during  progression,  puts  his  heel  to  the  ground 
first;  the  ox  also  places  his  heels  similarly  on  the  ground  first,  and 
dogs  bring  their  pads  in  contact  with  the  ground  first;  does  it  not, 
then,  seem  undeniable,  when  reasoning  by  analogy,  that  the  horse 
similarly  brings  his  heels  to  the  ground  first  ? 

"  During  progression,  the  body  moves  forward ;  during  which 
movement  the  toe,  as  evident  to  every  observer,  leaves  the  ground 
last,  that  is,  when  the  flexors  are  contracting.  If  such  be  the  case, 
then,  for  the  toe  to  come  in  contact  with  the  ground  first,  as  some 
aflirm,  and  the  heel  last,  is  a  retrograde  and  impossible  movement. 

"  Three  principal  impressions  are  made  on  the  foot  during  pro- 
gression, namely: 

"  1.  On  the  heel,  when  great  expansion  and  yielding  takes  place, 
owing  to  the  pressure  on  the  frog,  which  is  forced  upwards,  causing 
the  ultimate  expansion  of  the  walls  of  the  hoof,  &c. 

"2.  On  the  middle 'part  of  the  foot,  when  the  bones  bear  the 
weight  of  the  body.  The  flexors  and  extensors  being,  for  the  in- 
stant, in  a  state  of  quietude,  i.  e.  neither  of  them  are  extending  or 
contracting. 

"  3.  On  the  toe,  when  the  animal  gives  a  push,  by  which  an 
impetus  is  given  to  send  the  body  forwards. 

"  The  foot  comes  on  the  ground  nearly  flat,  I  admit,  but  the 
heel  is  for  an  instant  on  the  ground  before  the  toe. 

"  I  humbly  assert,  in  conclusion,  that  the  progress  of  action  is 
from  the  heel  to  the  toe,  and  not  from  the  toe  to  the  heel." 

It  appears  to  me  that  argument  is  here  thrown  away,  for  as  it 
is  admitted  by  both  sides  that  the  toe  and  heel  are  each  in  certain 
cases  placed  on  the  ground  first,  it  is  manifest  that  either  may  be 
in  all.  Observation,  therefore,  and  not  theoretical  argument,  must 
determine  under  what  circumstances  the  foot  is  deposited  with  its 
toe  on  the  ground,  and  vice  versa.  Mr.  Spooner,  and  nearly  the 
whole  of  the  London  school,  say  that  the  toe  touches  first  in  all 
cases  but  in  the  disease  known  as  laminitis;  Mr.  Lupton,  Mr. 
Gamgee,  and  the  Edinburgh  new  school,  assert,  on  the  contrary, 
that,  as  a  rule,  the  heel  touches  the  ground  a  shade  the  first.  Their 
assertions  reach  to  all  paces ;  but  here  I  think  a  mistake  is  com- 
mitted, for  I  am  confident  that  in  trotting,  the  toe  touches  the 


THE  WALK.  85 

ground  slightly  before  the  heel  in  a  large  proportion  of  cases.  In 
the  walk  1  am  quite  satisfied  that  Mr.  Lupton  and  his  followers 
are  right,  and  that  the  heel  is  presented  to  the  ground  in  all  good 
walkers,  but  so  slightly  first  as  to  escape  the  notice  of  careless 
observers.  If  the  toe  is  not  raised  it  is  apt  to  tip  the  inequalities 
of  the  ground,  and  we  have  that  disagreeable  sensation  of  inse- 
curity in  the  walk  which  a  bad  hack  invariably  gives.  Many 
horses  go  very  close  to  the  ground,  but  if  the  extensors  turn  the 
toe  well  up  in  bringing  the  leg  forward,  however  closely  to  the 
ground  it  is  carried,  it  is  safely  deposited  on  it.  On  the  contrary, 
a  high  action,  with  the  heel  raised,  is  never  safe,  either  on  the 
walk  or  the  trot.  It  is  quite  contrary  to  the  experience  of  horse- 
men out  of  the  veterinary  profession  to  assert  that  either  toe-action 
or  heel-action  is  invariably  met  with  in  sound  horses,  and  I  believe 
the  facts  to  be  as  I  have  stated  them.  That  in  laminitis  the  toe 
is  raised  in  an  exaggerated  form  no  one  will  deny,  but  the  extent 
is  far  greater  than  any  one  supposes  to  exist  in  a  healthy  foot. 
I  have  possessed  one  or  two  horses  which,  though  perfectly  sound, 
would  wear  out  the  heels  of  their  shoes  before  their  toes,  and  one 
of  them  was  a  high-stepping  mare  with  remarkably  good  feet.  Now 
the  friction  in  all  cases  after  the  foot  is  put  down  must  be  greater 
on  the  toe  than  the  heel,  because  it  scrapes  the  ground,  more  or 
less,  as  it  leaves  it.  When,  therefore,  the  heel  is  worn  out  first,  it 
proves  that  this  part  touches  the  ground  first,  though  the  converse 
does  not  hold  good,  for  the  reason  which  I  have  given. 

Having  discussed  these  two  questions,  I  come  now  to  examine 
what  is  done  in  each  movement  of  the  legs,  independently  of  the 
order  of  their  going,  and  of  the  above  toe  and  heel  controversy, 
and  shall  proceed  to  consider  in  what  the  good  walk  differs  from 
the  bad. 

WRITERS  ON  THE  HORSE  divide  each  movement  of  the  leg  into 
three  acts,  consisting  of  the  lift,  the  swing,  and  the  grounding. 
In  the  first  act,  the  foot  is  raised;  in  the  second,  it  is  thrust  for- 
ward ;  and  in  the  third,  it  is  firmly  but  lightly  deposited  on  the 
ground.  But  these  may  severally  be  well  performed,  and  yet  the 
horse  be  a  bad  walker,  because  his  body  is  not  well  balanced  on 
the  legs  in  contact  with  the  ground  while  the  other  or  others  are 
moving.  A  good  walker  should  take  short  quick  steps,  with  his 
hind  legs  well  under  him,  and  then  he  will  be  able  to  plant  his  fore 
feet  firmly  but  lightly  on  the  ground  in  succession.  If  his  stride  is 
too  long,  his  hind  legs  cannot  be  always  well  under  him,  because  they 
must  be  wide  apart  when  both  are  on  the  ground ;  and  the  body  can- 
not then  be  balanced  securely,  because  there  is  too  long  an  interval 
elapsing  while  the  one  hind  leg  is  passing  the  other.  Hence,  in  such 
a  horse,  there  is  a  waddling  movement  from  side  to  side,  so  often 
seen  in  the  thorough-bred  horse,  whose  full  tail  shows  it  very  mani- 
8 


86  THE  HORSE. 

festly,  but  whose  rider  feels  the  inconvenience  much  more  clearly 
than  it  is  seen  by  the  uninterested  looker-on.  The  clever  hack,  on 
the  contrary,  moves  forward  without  his  body  deviating  a  hair's 
breadth  from  the  line  in  which  it  is  progressing,  neither  undulating 
to  the  right  and  left  nor  up  and  down.  The  rider  of  a  first-rate 
hack  should  be  able  to  carry  a  full  glass  of  wine  in  his  hand  for 
any  distance  without  spilling  a  drop;  and  if  the  action  on  the  walk 
is  not  smooth  enough  for  this,  it  cannot  be  considered  as  approach- 
ing to  perfection.  Many  horses  step  short  and  quick,  and  yet  do 
not  walk  well,  because  their  shoulders  have  not  liberty  enough  to 
thrust  their  arms  forward  during  the  act  of  swinging  the  leg;  and 
hence  the  pace  is  slow,  for  the  foot  is  put  down  very  near  to  the 
spot  from  which  it  was  lifted.  In  choosing  a  good  walker,  there- 
fore, see  that  his  feet  are  lifted  smartly,  that  they  are  well  thrust 
forward,  and  placed  firmly  but  lightly  on  the  ground.  Look  at 
him  well  from  behind,  and  observe  whether  he  hits  himself  on  the 
fetlock  joints  as  one  foot  passes  the  other;  and  at  the  same  time 
examine  whether,  as  he  lifts  his  fore  feet,  he  turns  them  out,  or 
"  dishes,"  which  Is  a  very  serious  fault,  in  consequence  of  the  loss 
of  time  which  *t  occasions.  In  most  horses  the  hind  foot  oversteps 
the  place  from  which  the  corresponding  fore  foot  has  been  removed; 
but  in  a  good  hack  this  should  not  exceed  an  inch,  or  the  pace  will 
not  be  smooth  and  smart,  as  I  have  already  observed.  Very  few 
walkers  actually  touch  one  foot  with  the  other,  as  in  the  trot,  nor 
do  they  overreach  with  violence  so  as  to  injure  their  heels;  the 
only  objection,  therefore,  is  to  the  length  of  stride,  which  I  have 
shown  to  produce  an  uneasy  effect  upon  the  rider.  But  whenever 
the  horse  appears  to  move  as  if  his  fore  feet  are  in  the  way  of  the 
hind,  he  will  rarely,  even  with  the  best  tuition,  become  a  pleasant 
and  safe  hack. 

THE  RATE  OF  WALKING  is  very  seldom  quite  five  miles  an 
hour,  though  horses  are  to  be  found  which  will  accomplish  the 
distance  in  that  time,  or  even  less.  Many  will  do  a  mile  in  twelve 
minutes  and  a  half;  but  to  get  beyond  this  is  a  very  difficult  task. 
Indeed,  there  are  few  horses  which  in  their  walk  will  bear  pressing 
to  the  utmost  speed  of  which  they  are  capable,  without  breaking. 
It  may,  I  think,  be  assumed,  that  the  average  pace  of  good  walkers 
is  about  four  miles  and  a  half  to  four  miles  and  three-quarters 
per  hour. 

THE   TROT. 

THIS  PACE  may  be  described  under  three  heads,  namely,  the  jog 
trot,  the  true  trot,  and  the  flying  trot.  In  all  three  the  diagonal 
limbs  move  exactly  together,  but  in  the  first  the  time  during  which 
each  foot  is  on  the  ground  is  much  greater  than  that  in  which  it 
is  in  the  air.  In  the  second  the  contrary  is  the  case;  while,  in  the 
third,  the  horse  is  carried  completely  off  his  legs  for  a  considerable 


THE  TROT.  87 

space  of  time,  between  the  several  bounds  which  are  made  by  the 
two  feet  of  opposite  sides  as  they  touch  the  ground  in  succession. 
The  jog  trot  seems  to  come  naturally  to  the  horse  when  he  is  first 
mounted ;  and,  as  long  as  he  is  fresh  and  fiery,  the  colt  will  main- 
tain this  pace,  unless  he  is  permitted  to  exceed  it.  He  will  prefer 
it  to  the  walk  for  a  long  time ;  and  it  is  only  by  good  hands,  com- 
bined with  patience,  that  a  spirited  colt  can  be  made  to  walk ;  for 
he  can  generally  jog  quite  as  slowly,  and  often  much  more  so. 
Farmers  are  very  apt  to  accustom  their  young  horses  to  the  jog 
trot,  because  they  find  by  experience  that  it  does  not  injure  their 
legs  or  feet;  but  to  a  rider  unaccustomed  to  this  pace  it  is  by  no 
means  an  easy  one.  In  the  true  trot,  as  exemplified  below,  the 
feet  are  on  the  ground  a  comparatively  short  space  of  time,  the 
body  being  carried  so  rapidly  forward  that  they  are  moved  off 
almost  as  soon  as  they  are  deposited  on  it.  By  examining  this  out- 
line, it  will  be  seen  that  the  position  of  the  fore  and  hind  limbs  of 
the  two  opposite  sides  exactly  corresponds,  and  this  will  be  the 
case,  whatever  may  be  the  period  of  the  action  in  which  the  ob- 
servation is  made.  As  in  the  walk,  each  step  may  be  divided  into 
three  acts ;  but  I  see  no  advantage  in  thus  attempting  to  separate 
or  analyze  what  must  be  considered  in  its  totality,  if  it  is  to  be  re- 
garded with  any  advantage  to  the  observer.  In  the  flying  trot, 
which  is  well  shown  in  the  portrait  of  Flora  Temple,  at  page  489, 
all  the  legs  are  for  a  very  short  period  of  time  off  the  ground,  as  is 
there  delineated,  but  still  there  is  always  an  exact  correspondence 
between  the  position  of  the  fore  and  hind  legs  of  opposite  sides. 
The  chief  difference  between  these  three  varieties  of  the  trot  con- 
sists in  the  rapidity  of  the  propulsion  which  is  going  on.  This  in 
the  first  is  very  slight;  and  the  more  elastic  the  fetlock  joints,  the 
better  and  softer  is  this  pace.  The  feet  are  raised,  and  the  legs 
are  rounded  or  bent;  but  the  body  is  not  thrust  forward  nor  are 
the  shoulders  moved  in  the  same  direction  to  any  appreciable  ex- 
tent. The  consequence  is,  that  the  feet  are  deposited  again  very 
close  to  the  spot  from  which  they  are  taken,  and  the  pace  is  as. 
slow  as  the  walk.  In  the  true  trot,  if  it  is  well  performed,  the 
hind  legs  must  be  moved  as  rapidly  as,  and  with  more  force  than, 
the  fore  legs,  because  they  have  more  work  to  do  in  propelling  the 
body,  the  latter  having  only  to  sustain  it  during  the  operation. 
Good  judges,  therefore,  regard  the  hind  action  as  of  even  more 
importance  than  that  of  the  knees  and  shoulders;  for  if  the  former 
do  not  drive  the  body  well  forward,  good  pace  cannot  be  obtained, 
nor  will  it  be  easy  and  rhythmical.  In  this  kind  of  trot  elastic 
fetlocks  are  fatal  to  speed,  as  they  prevent  the  instantaneous  effect 
upon  the  body  of  the  muscular  contractions  of  the  hind  limbs,  and 
cause  the  action  to  be  dwelling  and  slow.  Very  fast  trotters  are, 
therefore,  rough  in  their  "feel"  to  the  rider,  and  are  not  suited 


THE  HORSE. 


J 


ACTION  IN  THE  TRUE  TROT. 


for  the  purposes  of  pleasure.  Indeed,  no  one  would  mount  one  of 
them  from  choice ;  but  when  they  possess  good  mouths,  they  are 
pleasant  enough  to  drive.  In  examining  trotting  action,  regard 
should  be  paid  to  the  plane  through  which  each  linib  passes,  for  if 
this  is  not  parallel  with  that  of  the  median  line  of  the  body  the 
action  is  not  true  and  smooth,  and  there  is  great  risk  of  one  limb 
cutting  the  other.  This  is  best  seen  by  watching  the  trot  from 
behind  as  well  as  before,  which  gives  an  opportunity  of  investi- 
gating the  movements  of  both  pairs  of  limbs.  Every  horse  should 
be  so  made  that,  when  he  stands,  his  fore  canna  bones  should  be 
quite  parallel ;  but  in  order  to  be  so,  as  they  stand  closer  together 
than  his  elbows,  they  must  form  a  slight  angle  with  the  arm  at  the 
knee ;  and  hence,  as  this  part  is  bent,  there  is  always  a  slight  ten- 
dency to  turn  out  the  foot,  the  exaggerated  form  of  which  is  called 
"  dishing."  The  observer  will,  therefore,  do  well  to  ascertain  the 
extent  to  which  this  should  be  carried,  or  he  will  be  apt  to  con- 
demn a  perfect  goer  as  a  "disher,"  from  finding  that  he  turns  out 
his  toes  in  bending  the  knee,  though  only  in  the  trifling  degree 
ordained  by  nature.  If,  in  bending  by  the  hand  the  fore  foot  to 
the  elbow,  the  inner  heel  of  the  shoe  is  in  contact  with  the  outside 
of  the  arm,  there  will  not  be  too  much  turning  out  of  the  foot,  and 


THE  TROT— THE  CANTER.  89 

the  purchaser  need  not  be  afraid  of  this  defect  existing  in  the 
horse  he  is  examining.  Provided  the  fetlocks  and  canna-bones  are 
not  actually  touched  or  "  hit"  in  trotting,  the  fore-legs  cannot  be 
moved  too  closely  together  •  but  if  they  pass  very  near  to  one  an- 
other in  a  fat  dealer's  horse,  it  may  be  suspected  that  when  he  is 
reduced  in  flesh  to  a  proper  working  condition,  boots  will  be  neces- 
sary. A  practised  eye  is  required  to  judge  of  this  correctly,  and, 
if  there  is  any  doubt,  one  had  better  be  consulted. 

The  Norfolk  trotter  of  the  present  day  has  very  perfect  action, 
intermediate  between  the  pointed  and  flying  trot  of  the  American 
horse,  and  the  round  high  knee-action  of  the  London  park-horse. 
Even  he,  however,  is  not  nearly  so  pleasant  to  ride  as  the  tho- 
rough-bred, when  the  latter  can  trot  at  all;  but  many  of  this  breed 
have  been  so  long  accustomed  to  the  gallop,  that  their  trot  is  a 
most  imperfect  pace.  When  they  do  perform  it  properly,  it  gives 
a  most  delightful  feel,  and  no  rider  for  pleasure,  if  money  is  at  his 
command,  should  "  throw  his  leg"  over  any  but  a  thorough-bred, 
or  one  nearly  pure  in  blood. 

THE  CANTER. 

THE  CANTER  is  a  thoroughly  artificial  pace,  at  first  extremely 
tiring  to  the  horse,  and  generally  only  to  be  produced  in  him  fry 
the  restraint  of  a  powerful  bit,  which  compels  him  to  throw  a  great 
part  of  his  weight  on  his  haunches.  It  is  very  difficult  to  describe 
or  define  this  pace,  either  in  a  pen-and-ink  sketch  or  by  the  aid  of 
the  painter.  Indeed  it  is  often  quite  a  matter  of  opinion  to  decide 
whether  a  horse  is  cantering  or  galloping.  Many  writers,  and 
among  them  Mr.  Blaine,  have  attempted  to  draw  a  distinction,  by 
confining  the  canter  to  the  pace  which  is  executed  without  the  feet 
ever  leaving  the  ground  altogether ;  but  this  definition  is  not  gene- 
rally admitted  and  followed,  and  many  a  horse  whose  canter  would  be 
readily  allowed  by  all  horsemen  to  be  true,  may  be  seen  to  leave  the 
ground  entirely  for  a  certain  interval  of  time,  however  small  it  may  be. 
There  is  so  great  a  variety  in  the  modes  adopted  by  different  horses 
for  performing  the  canter,  that  no  single  description  will  suffice, 
nor  indeed  is  it  easy,  as  I  before  observed,  to  define  any  one  of 
them.  Sometimes  the  carriage  is  extremely  elegant,  the  hind  legs 
well  under  the  body,  and  all  moving  like  clockwork,  with  the  head 
bent  on  the  neck,  and  the  mouth  playing  lightly  on  the  bit. 
When  such  a  pace  is  performed  with  the  right  leg  leading,  the 
canter  is  exactly  adapted  for  the  female  seat,  in  which  the  right 
shoulder  is  of  necessity  slightly  advanced,  and  it  is  therefore  the 
object  of  the  breaker  to  obtain  it.  But  it  is  only  in  those  horses 
which  combine  a  free  use  of  their  limbs  with  fine  temper  and  good 
mouths,  that  such  a  pace  can  be  developed,  and  if  any  one  of  these 
qualities  is  deficient  it  is  useless  to  attempt  to  teach  them.  On 


90  THE  HORSE. 

the  other  hand,  the  pony  or  galloway  will  often  canter  without 
throwing  any  extra  weight  on  his  hind  legs,  with  a  loose  rein  and 
extended  neck.  This  kind  of  pace  may  be  detected  by  the  ear  on 
a  turnpike  road,  by  the  quick  pat-ter-ring  sound  which  is  evolved. 
It  is  extremely  easy  to  the  horseman,  but  is  not  so  well  adapted  to 
female  equestrianism,  as  it  jerks  the  body  in  an  ungraceful  manner. 
The  true  canter,  as  adapted  for  ladies,  is  indicated  below,  though 


THE  CANTEE. 


it  is  so  difficult  to  represent,  that  it  is  not  so  clearly  done  as  might 
be  wished.  When  the  off  leg  leads  off,  the  near  one  has  to  bear 
more  than  its  share  of  work,  and  hence,  unless  a  change  is  occa- 
sionally made,  the  fetlock  joint  of  that  leg  is  almost  sure  to  suffer. 
Ladies  should  therefore  either  trot  for  a  part  of  their  daily  rides, 
or  teach  themselves  and  their  horses  to  change  the  lead  from  that 
with  the  off  leg  to  that  with  the  near. 

THE  HAND   GALLOP. 

BETWEEN  THE  CANTER  and  the  true  gallop  there  intervenes  a 
pace  which  may  be  easily  confounded  with  either,  unless  Mr. 
Elaine's  definition  of  the  canter  is  accepted,  when  the  hand  gallop 


THE  EXTENDED  GALLOP. 


91 


can  easily  be  distinguished  from  it.  This  pace  is  merely  a  slow 
and  measured  gallop,  in  which  for  a  very  short  period  all  the  legs 
leave  the  ground,  but  in  which  the  propulsion  is  steadily  given, 
and  not  with  those  snatches  or  jerks  which  are  necessary  to  de- 
velop the  high  speed  of  the  extended  gallop.  The  body  also  is 
not  nearer  the  ground  than  in  the  act  of  standing,  and  this  may  be 
considered  as  one  of  the  best  distinctions  between  the  hand  gallop 
and  the  extended  stride  of  the  faster  pace.  The  French  writers 
distinguish  between  the  two  by  asserting  that  in  the  hand  gallop 
there  are  three  beats,  while  in  the  flying  gallop  two  only  are  per- 
formed ;  but  in  practice  there  is  no  such  variation. 

THE   EXTENDED  GALLOP. 

ACCORDING  TO  MOST  OBSERVERS,  this  pace  is  a  succession  of 
leaps,  smoothly  and  rhythmically  performed,  but  Mr.  Percivall  has 
shown  that  there  is  a  considerable  difference  between  the  two  ac- 
tions. He  says  in  his  lectures, — "  In  galloping  a  horse,  in  hunt- 


RECEIVED   INTERPRETATION   OF   THE   GALLOP. 


ing,  for  example,  the  rider  needs  no  person  to  tell  him  of  the  mo- 
ment when  his  horse  is  taking  a  leap,  however  trifling  it  may  be ; 
his  own  sensations  inform  him  of  every  grip  or  furrow  his  horse 
leaps  in  his  course,  and  should  he  have  occasion  to  make  a  succes- 
sion of  such  jumps,  the  rider's  sensations  in  his  saddle  are  of  a 
very  different — very  uneasy — kind,  compared  to  such  as  he  expe- 
riences during  the  act  of  galloping.  This  arises  from  two  causes : 
from  the  spring  or  movement  of  the  body  necessary  to  produce  the 
leap  being  more  forcible  or  sudden  than  that  required  for  the  gallop, 
and  from  the  latter  being  created  and  continued  rather  by  the  sue- 


92  THE  HORSE. 

cessive  action  of  the  two  hind  feet  at  one  moment,  and  of  that  of 
the  two  fore  feet  at  the  next  moment,  than  from  the  synchronous 
eiforts  of  either  biped,  as  happens  in  the  leap.  The  two  great 
propellers  of  the  animal  machine — the  hind  feet — are  in  the  leap 
required  to  act  simultaneously,  to  make  one  grand  propulsory 
effort;  not  so  in  the  gallop,  that  being  a  movement  requiring  main- 
taining, not  by  synchronous  exhausting  efforts  of  the  hind  feet, 
but  in  swift  succession,  first  by  one,  then  by  the  other;  and  the 
same  as  regards  the  office  performed  by  the  fore  limbs,  which  latter 
probably  amounts  to  little  more  in  effect  than  the  sustentation  of 
the  fore  parts  of  the  body.  The  vault  into  the  air  required  for 
the  leap  is  only  to  be  effected  by  extraordinary  subitaneous  effort, 
but  the  stride  of  the  gallop,  requiring  frequent  repetition,  does 
not  exact  this  effort — amounts,  in  fact,  to  no  more  than  a  sort  of 
lift  from  the  ground,  multiplied  into  a  reiteration  of  forcible  bear- 
ings forward,  maintaining,  increasing,  or  diminishing  the  momen- 
tum of  speed,  effectuated  by  throwing  the  hind  feet  as  far  forward 
underneath  the  body  as  possible,  plunging  them  one  after  the  other 
with  inappreciable  rapidity  into  the  earth,  and  thus  by  two  strenuous 
thrusts  against  the  ground,  one  in  aid  of  the  other,  working  the  ani- 
mal machine  in  its  fleet — almost  flying — course.  In  the  gallop  as  in 
the  trot,  no  sooner  is  a  certain  momentum  acquired,  than  by  each 
successive  propulsion  of  the  hind  feet  the  body  is  sprung  or  lifted 
off  the  ground,  flying  as  it  appears  in  the  air,  and  the  greater  the 
speed,  the  more  this  volitation  becomes  apparent.  Hence  the  ap- 
pellation given  to  the  pace,  manifestly  the  utmost  speed,  of  FLYING 
GALLOP.  Even  this,  however,  according  to  my  judgment,  is  an 
action  different  from  leaping.  When  a  horse  leaps  or  jumps  in  his 
gallop, — which  he  will  do  sometimes  when  he  is  beany  and  has  but 
just  emerged  out  of  his  stable, — he  is  said  to  buck,  because  his 
action  then  resembles  that  of  the  deer,  in  whom  the  gallop  might 
with  a  great  deal  more  propriety  be  called  a  succession  of  leaps  : 
even  the  deer,  however,  cannot  continue  this  bucking  action  after 
being  driven  into  his  speed,  or  in  a  state  of  fatigue,  showing  that  in 
him  it  is  to  be  regarded  rather  as  a  gambol  than  as  his  proper  work- 
ing onward  action.  And  that  the  hind  and  fore  feet  in  pairs  are 
not  grounded  synchronously,  I  think  admits  of  a  demonstration  in 
two  ways :  first,  by  the  position  they  assume  one  in  advance  of  the 
other  in  the  gallop ;  secondly,  by  the  clatter  the  steps  of  a  horse 
in  the  gallop  are  known  to  make  upon  hard  or  resonant  ground, 
and  which  may  be  heard  either  by  a  spectator  or  by  the  rider  him- 
self. Whence  we  probably  derive  the  phrase,  a  rattling  gallop." 

But  while  I  agree  with  Mr.  Percivall  that  there  is  a  difference 
between  the  act  of  leaping  and  galloping,  as  performed  by  the 
horse,  I  do  not  quite  see  that  it  is  an  abuse  of  terms  to  describe 
the  gallop  as  a  "  succession  of  leaps" — that  they  are  not  precisely 


4 

THE  GALLOP.  93 

similar  to  those  made  in  overcoming  an  obstacle  does  not  necessa- 
rily make  them  other  than  leaps.  The  word  leap  is  not  defined  in 
our  dictionaries  so  as  to  confine  its  meaning  beyond  that  appertain- 
ing to  its  synonym,  spring,  and  probably  even  Mr.  Percivall  would 
not  deny  that  in  the  gallop,  the  horse,  as  well  as  the  deer,  makes 
a  succession  of  springs.  The  dispute  is  founded,  as  is  so  often  the 
case,  upon  a  want  of  agreement  as  to  the  meaning  of  a  word,  and 
not  on  a  difference  of  opinion  as  the  essence  of  the  act  itself. 
Elaine,  Percivall,  and  every  careful  observer  of  the  horse  in  action, 
well  know  that  in  the  act  of  galloping  the  horse  leaves  the  print 
of  his  hind  feet  one  in  advance  of  the  other,  while  in  leaping  he 
generally,  in  fact  almost  invariably,  makes  them  opposite  one 
another.  There  is  a  contradiction  apparent  in  Percivall's  remarks 
about  the  deer's  gallop,  which  in  one  place  he  observes  "might 
with  a  great  deal  more  propriety  be  called  a  succession  of  leaps," 
while  in  the  next  sentence  he  says  that  this  "  bucking  action"  in 
the  deer  "  is  to  be  regarded  rather  as  a  gambol  than  as  his  proper 
working  onward  action."  The  deer's  gallop  very  closely  resembles 
that  of  the  horse,  but  as  he  is  a  stronger  and  higher  leaper,  espe- 
cially in  proportion  to  his  size,  he  can  continue  those  bounds  with 
the  hind  legs  opposite  each  other  much  longer  and  with  more  ad- 
vantage than  the  horse,  who  seldom  makes  more  than  two  or  three 
in  succession. 

To  REPRESENT  THE  GALLOP  pictorially  in  a  perfectly  correct 
manner  is  almost  impossible.  At  all  events  it  has  never  yet  been 
accomplished,  the  ordinary  and  received  interpretation  being  alto- 
gether erroneous.  When  carefully  watched,  the  horse  in  full 
gallop  will  be  seen  to  extend  himself  very  much,  but  not  nearly  to 
the  length  which  is  assigned  to  him  by  artists.  To  give  the  idea 
of  high  speed  the  hind  legs  are  thrust  backward  and  the  fore  legs 
forward  in  a  most  unnatural  position,  which  if  it  could  be  assumed 
in  reality  would  inevitably  lead  to  a  fall,  and  most  probably  to  a 
broken  back.  It  is  somewhat  difficult  to  obtain  a  good  view  of  a 
horse  at  his  best  pace,  without  watching  him  through  a  race-glass 
at  a  distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile  at  least,  for  if  the  eye  is  nearer 
to  him  than  this  the  passage  of  the  body  by  it  is  so  quick  that  no 
analysis  can  be  made  of  the  position  of  the  several  parts.  But  at 
the  above  distance  it  may  be  readily  seen  that  the  horse  never  as- 
sumes the  attitude  in  which  he  is  generally  represented,  of  which 
an  example  is  given  at  the  beginning  of  this  article.  When  the 
hind  legs  are  thrust  backwards,  the  fore  feet  are  raised  and  more  or 
less  curled  up  under  the  knees,  as  it  is  manifest  must  be  the  case 
to  enable  them  to  be  brought  forward  without  raising  the  body 
from  the  ground.  In  the  next  act,  as  the  hind  feet  are  brought 
under  the  body  the  fore  legs  are  thrust  straight  before  it ;  and  so 
whichever  period  is  chosen  for  the  representation,  the  complete 


94 


THE  HORSE. 


extension  so  generally  adopted  must  be  inaccurate.  It  may  be  said 
that  this  is  meant  to  represent  the  moment  when  all  the  feet  are  in 
the  air,  and  theoretically  it  is  possible  that  there  may  be  a  time 
when  all  the  feet  are  extended;  because,  as  in  the  fast  gallop  the 
stride  is  twenty-four  feet  long,  while  the  horse  only  measures  six- 
teen from  foot  to  foot,  it  follows  that  he  must  pass  through  eight 
feet  without  touching  the  ground,  and  during  that  time,  as  of  ne- 
cessity his  legs  must  move  faster  than  his  body,  the  fore  legs  may 
change  their  position  from  the  curled  up  one  described  above  to 
the  extended  one  represented  by  all  painters  as  proper  to  the  gal- 
lop. Observation  alone  can  therefore  settle  this  question ;  but,  as 
I  before  remarked,  a  race-glass  at  a  distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
enables  a  careful  observer  to  satisfy  himself  that  our  received 
ideas  of  the  extended  gallop  are  incorrect.  Nevertheless,  if  a 
proper  interpretation  is  given,  the  eye  at  once  rebels,  and  on  ex- 


CORRECT   VIEW   OF   THE   GALLOP. 


amination  of  such  a  figure  as  we  here  give,  founded  on  perfectly 
correct  principles,  the  mind  refuses  its  assent  to  the  idea  of  great 
pace,  which  is  that  which  is  desired  to  be  given.  These  facts  are 
well  known  to  artists,  and  some  of  them,  including  the  celebrated 
Leech,  have  tried  the  experiment  of  drawing  the  galloping  horse 
properly ;  but  their  entire  want  of  success  shows  the  impossibility 
of  the  performance. 

As  IN  THE  CANTER  so  in  the  gallop  a  lead  is  always  made  of  one 
leg  before  the  other,  and  as  one  tires  the  other  changes  place  with 
it.  A  good,  true,  and  strong  galloper  will  seldom  require  this  re- 
lief, but  a  weak  one,  especially  if  not  completely  broken,  will  effect 


THE    AMBLE— RACKING,  ETC.  95 

the  change  continually.  Sometimes  this  causes  the  loss  of  a  race, 
for  it  cannot  be  done  without  interfering  with  the  action,  and  con- 
sequently with  the  pace.  A  good  horseman  prefers  that  his  horse 
should  not  confine  himself  to  one  lead,  but  he  does  not  like  him  to 
change  after  he  has  once  started,  for  the  above  reason.  The  right 
leg  in  front  is  more  easy  even  to  the  male  rider  than  the  left,  but 
not  materially  so,  and  except  for  female  equestrianism  no  horse 
should  be  taught  to  lead  invariably  with  the  right  leg  either  in  the 
gallop  or  canter.  In  the  change  the  truth  or  harmony  of  action  is 
often  disturbed,  and  the  horse  jerks  himself  and  his  rider  in  a 
disagreeable  manner,  which  is  another  reason  why  the  change  of 
legs  should  not  be  encouraged. 

THERE  is  A  GREAT  VARIATION  in  the  length  of  the  stride,  and 
in  the  rounding  or  bending  upwards  of  the  foot  under  the  knee. 
Sometimes  even  in  a  fast  gallop  the  distance  between  the  prints  of 
the  same  feet  will  be  no  more  than  sixteen  feet,  while  in  others  it 
will  measure  twenty-four,  twenty-five,  or  even  twenty-six  feet. 
The  first  is  too  short  for  any  race-horse ;  but  a  moderately  short 
stride  enables  the  horse  to  get  off  with  a  quicker  start,  and  to 
ascend  and  descend  hills  better  than  a  very  long  one.  Where, 
however,  a  distance  of  level  ground  is  to  be  covered  a  long  stride 
tells,  and  a  horse  possessing  it  has  a  great  advantage  over  one 
whose  gallop  is  short,  however  quick  and  smart  it  may  be.  For 
this  long  stride  there  must  be  length  of  limbs,  especially  of  the 
two  boned  meeting  at  the  stifle  joint  \  and  this  is  the  perfection  of 
the  form  of  the  race-horse,  as  I  have  already  described  at  page  73. 

THE  AMBLE. 

LIKE  THE  TROT,  this  pace  is  performed  by  two  legs  alternately 
moving  in  exact  correspondence  with  each  other.  Instead,  how- 
ever, of  these  being  of  opposite  sides,  they  are  of  the  same  side, 
and  one  lateral  half  of  the  body  is  moved  forward  while  the  weight 
of  the  whole  is  supported  on  the  other.  The  pace  is  altogether 
unnatural  to  the  wild  horse,  but  in  some  domestic  breeds  it  has 
become  naturalized,  and  the  foal  will  in  them  display  the  amble 
long  before  it  is  taught  anything  by  the  hand  of  man.  In  the 
canieleopard  the  amble  is  the  only  kind  of  progression,  whether 
the  animal  goes  slowly  or  fast ;  and  in  dogs,  especially  in  pointers, 
greyhounds,  and  Newfoundlands,  this  pace  is  occasionally  displayed. 
Formerly  an  ambling  palfrey  was  in  great  request  for  ladies'  use, 
but  in  the  present  day  the  pace  is  not  regarded  with  favor  by  any 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  British  Isles. 

RACKING,  OR  PACING,  AND  RUNNING. 

IN  THIS  COUNTRY  no  other  paces  are  recognised  than  the  five 
which  I  have  already  described,  but  in  America  a  fast  kind  of 


96  THE  HORSE. 

amble  is  distinguished  by  the  name  of  racking,  or  pacing.  It  is 
performed  by  two  legs  of  the  same  side  acting  synchronously  as  in 
the  amble,  but  they  are  moved  with  much  more  rapidity,  and  the 
result  is  a  speed  greater  than  that  of  the  fastest  trot,  by  several 
seconds  in  the  mile.  This  will  be  apparent  on  consulting  the  re- 
cord of  the  best  performances  of  the  American  horses,  at  pp.  504-6, 
where  Pocahontas,  a  pacer,  is  set  down  as  doing  a  mile  in  2  minutes 
17  £  seconds,  while  their  fastest  mile  trot  on  record  occupied  2 
minutes  19f  seconds.  Running  is  an  indescribable  kind  of  trot, 
in  which  the  limbs  do  not  move  regularly  together,  but  each  seems 
to  act  independently  as  in  the  walk.  The  consequence  is  that  it  is 
impossible  for  the  rider  of  a  running  horse  to  rise  in  his  stirrups, 
but  the  action  being  very  easy  there  is  no  occasion  for  this  relief. 
It  is  not  capable  of  being  performed  at  a  slow  rate,  and  it  is  gene- 
rally produced  among  horses  which  are  ridden  without  a  saddle, 
and  in  which  as  a  consequence  the  riders  do  not  relieve  themselves 
and  their  horses  by  rising  in  it. 

THE   PACES   OF   THE   MANEGE. 

IN  THE  MILITARY  SCHOOLS  OF  RIDING  a  variety  of  paces  are 
taught  even  in  the  present  day,  but  the  old  riding  masters  adopted 
many  more,  which  are  now  discontinued.  Some  of  them  are  in- 
tended to  enable  the  soldier  to  use  his  sword  or  spear  with  double 
advantage,  as  the  volte  and  semi-volte,  but  the  majority  of  those 
still  retained  are  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  combined  evo- 
lutions necessary  to  cavalry.  The  "  passage,"  for  instance,  is  a 
side  movement,  that  enables  a  number  of  horses  to  be  changed 
from  close  to  open  order,  which  would  be  a  difficult  task  to  per- 
form with  horses  not  taught  to  perform  it.  Backing  is  likewise 
necessary  for  similar  purposes ;  but  this  should  always  be  taught 
to  every  horse,  whether  used  by  the  military  or  by  civilians.  A 
minute  description,  however,  of  the  several  paces  of  the  manege 
would  occupy  too  much  space  here,  and  is  only  useful  to  the  cavalry 
soldier,  who  will  learn  their  nature  much  better  from  practical  in- 
struction by  the  riding-master  of  his  regiment. 

LEAPING,  OR  JUMPING. 

THE  DESCRIPTION  of  this  act  given  by  Mr.  Percivall  is  most 
unsatisfactory.  He  says,  "  The  leap  is  either  a  sudden  spring  into 
the  air,  in  which  the  feet  quit  the  ground  simultaneously,  or  else 
it  is  an  act  compounded  of  an  imperfect  rear  and  kick  in  quick  or 
slow  succession,  according  to  the  manner  in  which  it  is  performed. 
The  leap  can  hardly  be  regarded  as  an  act  of  progression  ;  com- 
monly it  being  in  a  forward  direction,  undoubtedly  progress  is 
made  by  it,  but  it  is  possible  for  it  to  amount  to  no  more  than  a 
jump  or  a  bound  off,  and  upon  the  same  ground,  as  is  the  case 


LEAPING,  OR  JUMPING.  97 

when  a  horse  is  said  to  '  buck '  in  his  leaping,  that  is,  to  couie 
down  upon  or  near  to  the  spot  from  which  he  arose."  Now  in 
this  sentence,  short  as  it  is,  I  maintain  that  several  misstatements 
are  made ;  as  I  shall  proceed  to  show.  To  begin  with  the  latter 
part.  If  a  horse  is  properly  said  to  "buck"  in  his  leaping,  it  is 
evident  that  the  two  cannot  be  synonymous,  or  there  would  be  no 
occasion  for  the  distinction,  and  therefore  if  "bucking"  means 
jumping  up  and  coming  down  on  the  same  ground,  which  is  the 
general  acceptation  of  the  term,  leaping  cannot  mean  the  same, 
which  it  is  said  sometimes  to  do  by  Mr.  Percivall  in  the  quotation 
which  I  have  adduced.  When  a  horse  simply  "bucks"  in  his 
play  he  does  not  leap  forward,  but  springs  into  the  air,  and  even 
then  he  generally  makes  some  progression.  When  he  "bucks" 
in  his  leaps,  he  must  progress,  because  he  begins  on  one  side  of 
the  obstacle  to  be  overcome,  and  finishes  on  the  other.  It  is  not 
meant  that  he  then  acts  exactly  as  he  does  in  play,  or  when  viciously 
trying  to  dislodge  his  rider,  but  that  his  action  resembles  to  a  con- 
siderable extent  this  true  bucking,  in  which  little  or  no  progres- 
sion is  made.  I  therefore  hold  that  Percivall's  exception  is  not 
founded  in  truth  •  and  that  the  act  of  leaping  necessarily  implies 
progression,  for  without  it  the  perpendicular  spring  into  the  air  is 
properly  distinguished  by  the  term  bucking,  as  admitted  by  Perci- 
vall himself.  Then,  turning  back  to  the  first  sentence,  I  think 
every  careful  observer  will  admit  that  in  the  leap,  whatever  may 
be.  its  kind,  the  feet  do  not  quit  the  ground  simultaneously.  Mani- 
festly in  the  Standing  or  slow  leap  the  fore  feet  rise  first,  unless 
the  horse  "bucks,"  when  all  rise  almost  but  not  quite  at  the  same 
moment.  A  careful  examination  of  the  mechanism  of  the  horse 
will  show  that  this  must  be  the  case,  because,  as  the  fore  legs  are 
straight  to  the  last,  there  is  no  spring  in  them,  and  if  they  were 
not  first  raised  by  the  action  of  the  loins  and  haunches,  as  in  rear- 
ing, they  would  remain  on  the  ground  until  they  were  dragged  by 
the  hind  quarters  turning  a  somerset  over  them.  In  the  human 
body,  as  the  legs  are  ordinarily  kept  straight,  they  must  be  bent 
before  a  spring  can  be  taken,  for  even  the  angular  ankle  joint  re- 
quires a  bent  knee  to  enable  it  to  act  upon  the  toes.  In  the  horse 
the  fore  leg  resembles  that  of  man  in  this  respect,  but  the  hind 
leg  in  the  standing  position  is  bent  at  the  stifle  and  hock,  and  is 
then  exactly  like  a  man's  when  he  is  prepared  to  take  a  standing 
jump.  As  a  consequence  of  this  the  fore  quarter  of  the  horse 
when  he  is  standing  must  be  raised  by  the  hind,  since  it  has  no 
angles  to  give  a  spring  with,  and  if  so  it  must  leave  the  ground 
first,  as  I  have  already  shown.  The  flying  leap  may  readily  be 
seen  to  be  accomplished  by  the  fore  feet  leaving  the  ground  first, 
and  no  one  I  believe  disputes  this,  so  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  dis- 
cuss it. 

9  G 


98  THE  HORSE. 

It  may,  therefore,  I  think,  be  asserted  with  truth  that  the  leap 
is  always  made  by  the  horse  raising  his  fore  quarter,  and  then  sud- 
denly and  powerfully  straightening  his  hind  limbs;  with  the  ground 
as  a  fulcrum  he  propels  his  whole  body  forwards,  and  more  or  less 
upwards,  according  to  the  height  of  the  obstacle  to  be  overcome. 
In  descending  from  the  height  to  which  the  whole  body  has  been 
raised,  there  is  a  considerable  variation  in  the  relative  periods  of 
time  at  which  the  fore  and  hind  feet  touch  the  ground.  Some- 
times the  fore  feet  come  down  almost  perpendicularly,  and  so  far 
before  the  hind  that  they  have  to  bear  the  whole  force  of  the 
united  m  amentum  and  gravity  before  the  hind  ones  reach  the 
ground,  and  then  a  very  slight  mistake  will  occasion  a  fall.  At 
others  they  come  down  "all  fours,"  that  is,  all  the  feet  touching 
the  ground  at  the  same  moment,  occasioning  a  great  shock  both  to 
horse  and  rider,  and  also  a  considerable  loss  of  time  in  getting 
away  again  into  the  stride.  In  the  best  style  the  horse  touches 
ground  with  his  fore  feet  first,  but  being  well  extended  they  are 
in  a  position  to  do  no  more  than  act  a?  a  spring  to  break  the  shock, 
and  the  hind  legs  coming  down  immediately  afterwards  bear  nearly 
the  whole  force  of  momentum  and  gravity,  which  the  fore  legs  are 
unable  to  do  safely,  as  I  have  already  shown. 

Mr.  Percivall  is  also  in  error  as  to  the  width  of  ground  which 
horses  have  been  known  to  clear;  for  he  gives  twenty-two  feet  as 
an  extraordinary  effort  in  a  steeplechase,  whereas  such  a  distance 
is  covered  by  any  hurdle-jumper  in  ordinary  practice,  as  I  have 
twenty  times  proved  by  careful  measurement.  I  have  myself  seen 
thirty-two  and  thirty-three  feet  cleared  by  steeplechasers,  and  it 
is  well  known  that  Proceed  and  Chandler  covered  respectively 
thirty-seven  and  thirty-nine  feet  in  two  separate  steeplechases.  So 
a  jump  six  feet  in  height  is  a  very  great  performance,  being  eight 
inches  higher  than  the  withers  of  a  horse  of  sixteen  hands.  Some- 
thing more  than  this  has  however  been  done,  and  I  myself  once 
saw  a  horse  clear  a  stone  wall  two  or  three  inches  above  six  feet 
high,  with  the  slightest  possible  touch  of  one  stone  with  a  hind 
foot,  but  sufficient  to  dislodge  it.  Very  few  horses,  however,  can 
be  relied  on  to  cover  more  than  twenty-five  feet  in  width,  and  four 
feet,  or  four  feet  sii  inches  in  height,  and  an  average  hunter  will 
not  often  do  so  much,  especially  if  at  all  tired  by  a  long  run,  or  if 
without  the  excitement  attendant  on  the  chase. 


THEORY  OF  GENERATION.  99 

CHAPTER    VII. 
THE    PRINCIPLES    OF    BREEDING   APPLICABLE    TO    THE    flORSE. 

Theory  of  Generation — In-and-in  Breeding — Out-Crossing ,  Advan 
iages  and  Disadvantages  of  each  Plan — Causes  of  a  "Hit" — 
Importance  of  Health  and  Soundness  in  both  Sire  and  Dam — 
Best  Age  to  Breed  from — Influence  of  Sire  and  Dam  respectively — 
Choice  of  Sire  and  Dam —  The  Kind  of  Horse  most  likely  to  be 
Profitable  to  the  Breeder — Concluding  Remarks  on  Breeding. 

THEORY   OF    GENERATION. 

THE  IMPORTANCE  of  understanding  the  principles  upon  which 
the  breeding  of  the  horse  should  be  conducted  is  so  great  that 
every  one  who  superintends  a  stud,  however  small,  should  study 
them  carefully.  To  do  this  with  advantage,  he  must  investigate 
the  changes  which  take  place  after  the  union  between  the  sexes, 
and  must  endeavor  to  ascertain  the  influence  which  the  sire  and 
dam  respectively  exert  upon  their  offspring. 

In  the  year  1855.  while  engaged  in  preparing  the  article  on 
the  breeding  of  the  horse  in  "  British  Rural  Sports/'  I  carefully 
drew  up  the  following  epitome  of  the  laws  which  govern  the  gene- 
ration of  the  mammalia.  Since  then,  the  subject  has  constantly 
been  before  me ;  but,  in  spite  of  the  numerous  investigations  car- 
ried on  by  other  observers,  I  have  seen  no  reason  to  modify,  in  any 
material  degree,  what  I  then  wrote ;  and  I  shall,  therefore,  to  pre- 
vent confusion,  insert  it  entire,  what  slight  additions  may  be  neces- 
sary being  included  within  parentheses. 

1.  THE  UNION  of  the  sexes  is,  in  all  the  higher  animals,  neces- 
sary for  reproduction ;  the  male  and  female  each  taking  their  re- 
spective share. 

2.  THE  OFFICE  OF  THE  MALE  is  to  secrete  the  semen  in  the 
testes,  and  emit  it  into  the  uterus  of  the  female  (in  or  near  which 
organ),  it  comes  in  contact  with  the  ovum  of  the  female — which 
remains  sterile  without  it. 

3.  THE  FEMALE  forms  the  ovum  in  the  ovary,  and  at  regular 
times,  varying  in  different  animals,  this  descends  into  the  uterus, 
for  the  purpose  of  fructification,  on  receiving  the  stimulus  and  ad- 
dition of  the  sperm-cell  of  the  semen. 

4.  THE  SEMEN  consists  of  two  portions — the  spermatozoa,  which 
have  an  automatic  power  of  moving  from  place  to  place,  by  which 
quality  it  is  believed  that  the  semen  is  carried  to  the  ovum ;  and 
the  sperm-cells,  which  are  intended  to  co-operate  with  the  yerm- 
cell  of  the  ovum  in  forming  the  embryo. 

5.  THE  OVUM  consists  of  the  germ-cell,  intended  to  form  part 


100  THE  HORSE. 

of  the  embryo, — and  of  the  yolk,  which  nourishes  both,  until  the 
vessels  of  the  mother  take  upon  themselves  the  task ;  or,  in  ovip- 
arous animals,  till  hatching  takes  place,  and  external  food  is  to  be 
obtained.  The  ovum  is  carried  down  by  the  contractile  power  of 
the  fallopian  tubes  from  the  ovary  to  the  uterus,  and  hence  it  does 
not  require  automatic  particles  like  the  semen. 

6.  THE  EMBRYO,  or  young  animal,  is  the  result  of  the  contact 
of  the  semen  with  the  ovum,  immediately  after  which  the  sperm- 
cell  of  the  former  is  absorbed  into  the  germ-cell  of  the  latter.    Upon 
this  a  tendency  to  increase  or  "  grow"  is  established  and  supported 
at  first,  by  the  nutriment  oontained  in  the  yolk  of  the  ovum,  until 
the  embryo  has  attached  itself  to  the  walls  of  the  uterus,  from 
which  it  afterwards  absorbs  its  nourishment  by  the  intervention 
of  the  placenta. 

7.  As  THE  MALE  AND  FEMALE  each  furnish  their  quota  to  the 
formation  of  the  embryo,  it  is  reasonable  to  expect  that  each  shall 
be  represented  in  it,  which  is  found  to  be  the  case  in  nature ;  but 
as  the  food  of  the  embryo  entirely  depends  upon  the  mother,  it  may 
be  expected  that  the  health  of  the  offspring  and  its  constitutional 
powers  will  be  more  in  accordance  with  her  state  than  with  that 
of  the  father ;  yet  since  the  sire  furnishes  one-half  of  the  original 
germ,  it  is  not  surprising  that  in  external  and  general  character 
there  is  retained  &fac-simile,  to  a  certain  extent,  of  him. 

8.  THE  OVUM  OF  MAMMALIA  differs  from  that  of  birds  chiefly 
in  the  greater  size  of  the  yolk  of  the  latter,  because  in  them  this 
body  is  intended  to  support  the  growth  of  the  embryo  from  the 
time  of  the  full  formation  of  the  egg  until  the  period  of  hatching. 
On  'the  other  hand,  in  mammalia  the  placenta  conveys  nourish- 
ment from  the  internal  surface  of  the  uterus  to  the  embryo  during 
the  whole  time  which  elapses  between  the  entrance  of  the  ovum 
into  the  uterus  and  its  birth.     This  period  embraces  nearly  the 
whole  of  the  interval  between  conception  and  birth,  and  is  called 
utero-gestation . 

9.  IN  ALL  THE  MAMMALIA  THERE  is  A  PERIODICAL  "HEAT," 
marked  by  certain  discharges  in  the  female,  and  sometimes  by  other 
remarkable  symptoms  in  the  male  (as  in  the  rutting  of  the  deer). 
In  the  former  it  is  accompanied  in  all  healthy  subjects  by  the  de- 
scent of  an  ovum  or  ova  into  the  uterus ;  and  in  both  there  is  a 
strong  desire  for  sexual  intercourse,  which  never  takes  place  at 
other  times  in  them  (with  the  single  exception  of  the  genus  Di- 
mana). 

10.  THE  SEMEN  retains  its  fructifying  power  for  some  days,  if  it 
is  contained  within  the  walls  of  the  uterus  or  vagina,  but  soon  ceases 
to  be  fruitful  if  kept  in  any  other  vessel.     Hence,  although  the 
latter  part  of  the  time  of  heat  is  the  best  for  the  union  of  the  sexes, 
because  then  the  ovum  is  ready  for  the  contact  with  the  semen, 


THEORY  OF   GENERATION.  101 

yet  if  the  semen  reaches  the  uterus  first,  it  will  still  cause  a  fruit- 
ful impregnation,  because  it  remains  there  (or  in  the  fallopian 
tubes)  uninjured  until  the  descent  of  the  ovum. 

11.  THE  INFLUENCE  OF  THE  MALE  upon  the  embryo  is  partly 
dependent  upon  the  fact,  that  he  furnishes  a  portion  of  its  sub- 
stance in  the  shape  of  the  sperm-call,  but  also  in  great  measure 
upon  the  effect  exerted  upon  the  nervous  system  of  the  mother  by 
him.     Hence,  the  preponderance  of  one  or  other  of  the  parents 
will,  in  great  measure,  depend  upon  the  greater  or  less  strength  of 
nervous  system  in  each.     No  general  law  is  known  by  which  this 
can  be  measured,  nor  is  anything  known  of  the  laws  which  regu- 
late the  temperament,  bodily  or  mental  power,  color  or  conforma- 
tion, of  the  resulting  offspring. 

12.  ACQUIRED  QUALITIES  are  transmitted,  whether  they  belong 
to  the  sire  or  darn,  and  also  both  bodily  and  mental.     As  bad  qua- 
lities are  quite  as  easily  transmitted  as  good  ones,  if  not  more  so, 
it  is  necessary  to  take  care  that  in  selecting  a  male  to  improve  the 
stock  he  is  free  from  bad  points,  as  well  as  furnished  with  good 
ones.     It  is  known  by  experience  that  the  good  or  bad  points  of 
the  progenitors  of  the  sire  or  dam  are  almost  as  likely  to  appear 
again  in  the  offspring  as  those  of  the  immediate  parents  in  whom 
they  are  dormant.     Hence,  in  breeding,  the  rule  is,  that  like  pro- 
duces like,  or  the  likeness  of  some  ancestor. 

13.  THE  PURER  OR  LESS  MIXED  the  breed  the  more  likely  it 
is  to  be  transmitted  unaltered  to  the  offspring.     Hence,  whichever 
parent  is  of  the  purest  blood  will  be  generally  more  represented  in 
the  offspring ;  but  as  the  male  is  usually  more  carefully  selected 
and  of  purer  blood  than  the  female,  it  generally  follows  that  he 
exerts  more  influence  than  she  does ;  the  reverse  being  the  case 
when  she  is  of  more  unmixed  blood  than  the  sire. 

14.  BREEDING  "IN-AND-IN"  is  injurious  to  mankind,  and  has 
always  been  forbidden  by  the  Divine  law,  as  well  as  by  most  hu- 
man lawgivers.     On  the  other  hand,  it  prevails  extensively  in  a 
state  of  nature  with  all  gregarious  animals  (such  as  the  hoise), 
among  whom  the  strongest  male  retains  his  daughters  and  grand- 
daughters until  deprived  of  his  harem  by  younger  and  stronger 
rivals.     Hence,  in  those  of  our  domestic  animals  which  are  natu- 
rally gregarious,  it  is  reasonable  to  conclude  that  breeding  "  in-and- 
in"  is  not  prejudicial,  because  it  is  in  conformity  with  their  natural 
instincts,  if  not  carried  farther  by  art  than  nature  teaches  by  her 
example.     Now,  in  nature,  we  find  about  two  consecutive  crosses 
of  the  same  blood  is  the  usual  extent  to  which  it  is  carried,  as  the 
life  of  the  animal  is  the  limit ;  and  it  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  in 
practice,  a  conclusion  has  been  arrived  at  which  exactly  coincides 
with  these  natural  laws.     "  Once  in  and  once  out"  is  the  rule  for 
breeding  given  by  Mr.  Smith  in  his  work  on  the  breeding  for  the 

9* 


102  THE  HORSE. 

turf;  but  twice  in  will  be  found  to  be  more  in  accordance  with  the 
practice  of  our  most  successful  (early)  breeders. 

15.  THE    INFLUENCE    OP    THE    FIRST    IMPREGNATION    Seems    to 

extend  to  the  subsequent  ones ;  this  has  been  proved  by  several 
experiments,  and  is  especially  marked  in  the  equine  genus.  In  the 
series  of  examples  preserved  in  the  museum  of  the  College  of  Sur- 
geons, the  markings  of  the  male  quagga,  when  united  with  the 
ordinary  mare,  are  continued  clearly  for  three  generations  beyond 
the  one  in  which  the  quagga  was  the  actual  sire;  and  they  are  so 
clear  as  to  leavn  the  question  settled  without  a  doubt. 

16.  WHEN   SOME  OF  THE  ELEMENTS  of  which  an  individual 
sire  is  composed  are  in  a  cordance  with  others  making  up  those  of 
the  dam,  they  coalesce  in  such  a  kindred  way  as  to  make  what  is 
called  "  a  hit/'     On  the  other  hand,  when  they  are  too  incongru- 
ous, an  animal  is  the  result  wholly  unfitted  for  the  task  he  is  in- 
tended to  perform. 

THESE  PRINCIPLES,  together  with  the  observations  following  upon 
them,  have  been  quoted  verbatim,  at  great  length,  by  the  late  Mr. 
Herbert,  in  his  elaborate  quarto  work  on  "  The  Horse  of  America," 
with  the  very  flattering  testimony  that  he  had  done  so  "not  for 
the  purpose  of  avoiding  trouble,  or  sparing  time,  but  because  he 
conceives  the  principles  laid  down  to  be  correct  throughout,  the 
reasoning  logical  and  cogent,  the  examples  well  taken,  and  the  de- 
ductions such  as  can  scarcely  be  denied."  In  support  of  this 
opinion,  he  adduces  several  instances  in  which  a  "  hit"  has  occurred 
in  America  by  carrying  out  the  last  axiom  in  the  preceding  list. 
Thus  he  says,  at  page  260  of  his  second  volume,  "I  think  myself 
that  it  is  made  clear  by  recent  events,  and  that  such  is  shown  to  be 
the  case  by  the  tables  of  racing  stock  given  at  the  close  of  the  first 
volume,  that,  previous  to  the  last  quarter  of  a  century,  the  Ame- 
rican turfman  was  probably  breeding  in  too  much  of  the  old  Vir- 
ginia and  South  Carolina  ante-revolutionary  stock,  and  that  the 
American  racehorse  has  been  improved  by  the  recent  cross  of  mo- 
dern English  blood.  It  is  also  worthy  of  remark,  that  every  one 
of  the  four  most  successful  of  modern  English  stallions  in  this 
country  which  have  most  decidedly  hit  with  our  old  stock — Levia- 
than, Sarpedon,  Priam,  and  Qlencoe — all  trace  back  to  several 
crosses  of  Herod  blood;  Glenoe  and  Priam  not  less  than  three  or 
four  several  times  each  to  crosses  of  Partner  blood,  and  directly 
several  times  over  to  the  Godolphin  Barb,  or  Arabian,  which  are 
the  very  strains  from  which  our  Virginian  stock  derives  its  pecu- 
liar excellence  It  is  farther  worthy  of  remark,  that  two  stallions 
have  decidedly  hit  with  the  imported  English  mare  Reel,  as  proved 
by  her  progeny,  Lecompte  and  Prioress,  respectively  to  Boston  and 
Sovereign.  Now  Keel,  through  Glencoe,  Catton,  Gohanna,  and 
Smolensko,  has  herself  no  less  than  seven  distinct  strains  of  Herod 


IN-AND-IN  BREEDING.  103 

blood.  Boston,  as  every  one  knows,  traces  directly  through  Timo- 
leon,  Sir  Archy,  Diomed,  Florizel,  to  Herod.  Sovereign,  also, 
through  Emilius,  his  sire,  has  Herod  on  both  lines  as  his  paternal 
and  maternal  g.g.g.  sire;  and  Tartar,  the  sire  of  Herod,  a  third 
time,  in  one  remove  yet  farther  back.  Now  this  would  go  to  jus- 
tify Stonehenge's  opinion  that  the  recurrence  to  the  same  original 
old  strains  of  blood,  when  such  strains  have  been  sufficiently  inter- 
mixed and  r3ndered  new  by  other  more  recent  crosses,  is  not  inju- 
rious, but  of  great  advantage ;  and  that,  on  the  whole,  it  is  better, 
cceteris  parilus,  to  do  such  than  to  try  experiments  with  extreme 
out-crosses." 

IN-AND-IN  BREEDING. 

WHEN  ANY  NEW  BREED  of  animals  is  first  introduced  into  this 
country,  in-and-in  breeding  (by  which  is  to  be  understood  the  pair- 
ing of  relations  within  the  degree  of  second  cousins  twice  or  more 
in  succession)  can  scarcely  be  avoided;  and  hence,  when  first  the 
value  of  the  Arab  was  generally  recognised,  the  breeder  of  the 
racehorse  of  those  days  could  not  well  avoid  having  recourse  to 
the  plan.  Thus  we  find,  in  the  early  pages  of  the  Stud-book,  con- 
stant instances  of  very  close  in-breeding,  often  carried  to  such  an 
extent  as  to  become  incestuous.  The  result  was  our  modern  tho- 
rough-bred ;  but  it  does  not  follow  that  because  the  plan  answered 
in  producing  that  celebrated  kind  of  animal,  it  will  be  equally 
successful  in  keeping  up  the  breed  in  its  original  perfection.  In 
"  British  Rural  Sports,"  I  have  given  a  series  of  examples  of  suc- 
cess resulting  from  each  plan,  which  I  shall  not  now  repeat,  merely 
remarking  that  the  opinion  which  I  formed  from  an  attentive  ex- 
amination of  them  remains  unchanged.  This  opinion  was  expressed 
in  the  following  words : — 

"  If  the  whole  of  the  pedigrees  to  which  I  have  drawn  atten- 
tion are  attentively  examined,  the  breeder  can  have  no  hesitation 
in  coming  to  the  conclusion,  that  in-breeding,  carried  out  once  or 
twice,  is  not  only  not  a  bad  practice,  but  is  likely  to  be  attended 
v>  ith  good  results.  Let  him  ask  what  horses  have  been  the  most 
remarkable  of  late  years  as  stallions,  and,  with  very  few  exceptions, 
he  will  find  they  were  considerably  in-bred.  It  has  been  remarked, 
that  the  Touchstone  and  Defence  blood  almost  always  hits  with  the 
Selim ;  but  it  is  forgotten  that  the  one  was  already  crossed  with 
that  horse,  and  the  other  with  his  brother  Rubens.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  Whisker  blood  in  the  Colonel  has  not  succeeded  so  well, 
it  being  made  up  of  much  crossed  and  more  distinctly  related  parti- 
cles, and  therefore  not  hitting  with  the  Selim  and  Castrel  blood, 
like  his  cousins,  Touchstone  and  Defence.  It  has,  however,  par- 
tially succeeded  when  in-bred  to  the  Waxy  and  Buzzard  blood,  as 
in  Chatham  and  Fugleman,  who  both  reunite  these  three  strains. 
The  same  applies  to  Coronation,  who  unites  the  Whalebone  blood 


104  THE  HORSE. 

in  Sir  Hercules  with  that  of  Rubens  in  Ruby;  but  as  Waxy  and 
Buzzard,  the  respective  ancestors  of  all  these  horses,  were  both 
grandsons  of  Herod,  and  great-grandsons  of  Snap,  it  only  strength- 
ens the  argument  in  favor  of  in-breeding.  This  conclusion  is  in 
accordance  with  the  14th  and  15th  axioms,  which  embody  the 
state  of  our  present  knowledge  of  the  theory  of  generation ;  and 
if  they  are  examined,  they  will  be  seen  to  bear  upon  the  present 
subject,  so  as  to  lead  one  to  advise  the  carrying  out  of  the  practice 
of  in-and-in  breeding  to  the  same  extent  as  has  been  found  so  suc- 
cessful in  the  instances  which  I  have  given.  Purity  of  blood  is 
intimately  connected  with  the  practice,  because  the  nearer  it  is  to 
one  standard,  the  more  unmixed  it  is,  and  by  consequence  the  more 
fully  it  is  represented  in  the  produce.  Hence,  it  is  doubly  needful 
to  take  care  that  this  pure  blood  is  of  a  good  kind ;  because  if  bad, 
it  will  perpetuate  its  bad  qualities  just  as  closely  as  it  would  the 
good,  or  perhaps  still  more  so." 

I  have  nothing  to  add  to  these  remarks ;  and  if  I  were  to  adduce 
the  few  instances  in  their  support  which  can  have  occurred  since 
1855-6,  when  they  were  written,  I  should  add  little  to  the  mass  of 
evidence  which  I  have  already  collected.  An  appeal  to  the  past 
can  only  be  answered  in  the  way  which  I  have  recorded  ;  for  the 
evidence  of  repeated  success  in  resorting  to  the  practice  of  in-breed- 
ing is  too  strong  to  be  gainsaid.  We  will  now  consider  whether 
the  effects  of  an  out-cross  are  of  superior  or  equal  value. 

OUT-CROSSING. 

BETWEEN  IN-AND-IN  BREEDING,  which  I  have  defined  as  the 
pairing  of  animals  within  the  relationship  of  second  cousins,  and 
the  opposite  extreme  of  uniting  those  which  are  not  at  all  allied  in 
blood,  there  are  many  degrees  ;  but  as,  in  the  thorough-bred  horse, 
there  are  scarcely  two  in  the  Stud-book  which  cannot  be  traced 
back  to  the  same  stock  in  one  or  more  lines,  we  do  not  generally 
understand  "  a  cross"  to  demand  absolute  distinctness  of  blood. 
For  instance,  Teddington  is  generally  considered  as  the  result  of 
as  marked  a  cross  as  we  ever  met  with  in  the  modern  Stud-book. 
For  five  generations,  the  same  name  never  appears  in  the  pedigree 
tables  of  his  sire  and  dam  ;  but  in  the  sixth,  we  find  the  name  of 
Sir  Peter  occur  three  times  on  the  side  of  his  sire,  and  twice  on 
that  of  his  dam,  besides  six  other  lines  of  Herod  blood  on  the  part 
of  the  sire,  and  eight  on  that  of  the  dam.  Here,  therefore,  there 
was  a  return  to  the  original  lines  of  blood,  which  had  been  in-bred 
twice  each,  after  five  successive  departures  from  them  as  far  as 
could  be  effected  in  this  particular  kind  of  horse.  The  last  are 
called  "  crosses/'  though  not  being  exactly  the  reverse  of  in-breed- 
ing, for  the  reason,  as  I  before  remarked,  that  an  absolute  freedom 
from  relationship  is  not  to  be  found,  or,  if  so,  extremely  rarely 


ADVANTAGES,   ETC.  105 

Breeders  very  often  fancy  that  they  put  two  animals  together 
which  are  without  any  corresponding  lines  or  strains  of  blood  in 
their  composition  ;  whereas,  in  point  of  fact,  the  relationship  exists 
only  four  or  five  degrees  off.  The  horse  arid  mare  are,  perhaps, 
fourth  or  fifth  cousins,  often  second  or  third;  but,  in  examining 
the  Stud-book,  the  blood  of  the  sire,  grandsire,  and  great-grandsire 
is  apt  to  bo  forgotten,  because  it  is  not  given,  the  name  only  beina 
mentioned  In  the  book  to  which  I  have  already  alluded,  I  have 
inserted  a  long  series  of  pedigree  tables,  drawn  out  to  the  sixth 
generation,  with  a  reference  also  to  the  earlier  pedigrees;  by 
which,  at  one  glance,  the  breeder  may  see  how  constantly,  in 
going  back,  the  same  names  occur  in  every  table.  Eclipse,  Herod, 
and  Conductor,  the  three  contemporary  descendants  of  the  Barley 
Arab,  the  Byerly  Turk,  and  the  Godolphin  Barb,  or  one  of  their 
immediate  descendants,  will  be  seen  in  the  fifth,  sixth,  and  seventh 
remove  of  all  our  thorough-bred  horses,  and  often  the  names  of  all 
three  will  be  found  repeated  four,  five,  or  six  times  apiece ;  yet  the 
horse  itself  whose  pedigree  is  being  examined,  as  in  the  instance 
of  Teddington,  is  considered  to  be  the  produce  of  a  cross,  and  is 
not,  therefore  said  to  be  in-bred. 

ADVANTAGES  AND  DISADVANTAGES  OF  EACH  PLAN. 

HAVING  THUS  EXPLAINED  the  meaning  of  the  two  terms,  and 
having,  in  "British  Rural  Sports,"  collected  a  series  of  examples 
of  success  in  crossing  nearly  equal  in  number  to  those  adduced  in 
which  in-breeding  had  been  resorted  to  advantageously,  I  shall 
now  proceed  to  say  a  few  words  upon  the  probable  advantages  to 
be  derived  from  each  plan.  Tn  the  first  place,  it  may  be  laid 
down  that  nearly  an  equal  number  of  good  horses  have  lately  been 
bred  by  adopting  either  mode  of  proceeding ;  but  no  first-rate  horse 
has  appeared  whose  parents  were  incestuously  allied.  In  the  second 
place,  it  may  be  gathered  from  experiments  with  horses  and  other 
domestic  animals,  that  very  close  in-breeding,  continued  for  any 
length  of  time,  is  apt  to  develop  the  weak  points  in  the  constitu- 
tions of  the  breed  in  which  it  is  adopted.  The  cautious  breeder, 
therefore  will  do  well  to  avoid  running  this  risk,  and  will  strive  to 
obtain  what  he  wants  without  having  recourse  to  the  practice, 
though,  at  the  same  time,  he  will  make  up  his  mind  that  it  is 
unwise  to  sacrifice  a  single  point  with  this  view.  Experience 
tells  us  that  it  is  useless  to  expect  to  develop  a  new  property  or 
quality  in  the  next  generation,  by  putting  a  female  entirely 
deprived  of  it  to  a  male  which  possesses  it  even  in  a  marked 
degree.  Some  instances  of  success  will  attend  the  adoption  of 
this  course,  but  as  a  rule  it  cannot  be  relied  on  in  the  majority  of 
instances.  Thus,  a  slow,  stout  mare,  containing  no  lines  of  fast 
Hood  in  her  pedigree,  will  not  be  likely  to  breed  a  fast  colt,  though 


106  THE  HORSE. 

put  to  a  flying  stallion,  whose  blood  is  not  stout  in  a  considerable 
proportion  of  his  ancestry.  Two  or  three  consecutive  crosses  with 
the  same  or  similar  blood  will  almost  of  a  surety  effect  the  object; 
but  the  first  will  rarely  do  so.  Again,  we  know,  if  we  put  two 
animals  together,  equally  in-bred  or  equally  crossed,  the  produce 
is,  on  the  whole,  as  likely  to  resemble  the  one  parent  as  the  other, 
though  there  may  be  a  difference  of  opinion  as  to  particular  points. 
But,  if  not  thus  equally  composed  of  similar  elements,  the  more 
in-bred  parent  will  be  represented  in  a  greater  proportion  than 
the  crossed  one ;  and  hence  it  follows,  that  if  it  is  desired  to  keep 
up  the  qualities  of  the  horse  or  mare  in  his  or  her  descendant,  the 
mate  must  be  selected,  if  possible,  less  in-bred  than  he  or  she  is. 
West  Australian  himself  and  his  stock  are  excellent  examples  of 
this  theory.  His  sire,  Melbourne,  was  the  result  of  a  series  of 
crosses ;  while  his  dam,  Mowerina,  was  in-bred  to  Whalebone  and 
Whisker,  own  brothers ;  and  her  sire  and  dam  were  second  cousins. 
The  result  has  been,  that  both  in  "  The  West"  and  in  his  stock 
the  Whalebone  element  has  been  universally  manifested,  and  not 
the  slightest  trace  of  Melbourne  has  ever  appeared,  as  far  as  my 
knowledge  of  his  stock  allows  me  to  judge.  This  is  in  perfect 
accordance  with  the  13th  anxiom  in  the  epitome  of  the  laws 
which  govern  the  breeding  of  our  domestic  animals.  (See  page 
101.) 

CAUSES   OF  A   "HIT." 

A  "  HIT,"  in  breeding,  is  understood  to  mean  an  instance  of  suc- 
cess ;  but  though  it  often  occurs,  the  reason  for  it  is  not  always 
very  clear.  My  own  belief  is  that  it  generally  results,  as  I  have 
laid  down  in  the  16th  axiom,  from  the  reunion  of  lines  which  have 
been  often  kept  separate  for  several  generations.  Thus,  it  is  a 
fact  (so  patent  that  every  writer  on  the  breeding  of  the  horse,  of 
late  years,  has  admitted  its  truth),  that  the  Touchstone  and  Sultan 
blood  have  almost  invariably  hit.  The  reason,  granting  the  pre- 
mises which  I  lay  down,  is  plain  enough — each  goes  back  to  Selim, 
the  former  through  the  dam  of  his  sire,  Camel,  and  the  latter  being 
son  of  that  horse.  Many  other  examples  of  a  similar  nature  might 
be  adduced,  though  not  observed  so  extensively  as  in  the  case  of 
Touchstone,  because  few  horses  have  been  put  to  so  many  mares 
as  he  has.  I  do  not  mean  to  assert  that  no  hit  can  occur  without 
such  a  reunion  of  previously  separated  lines,  but  I  believe  that, 
under  other  circumstances,  it  will  rarely  be  found  to  show  itself; 
and  if,  as  I  before  observed,  there  is  a  relationship  between  all 
thorough-bred  horses,  either  remote  or  near,  there  must  be  this 
reunion  to  some  extent.  This,  however,  is  not  what  I  mean  ;  the 
return  must  be  to  a  line  only  removed  two,  three,  or  four  genera- 
tions, in  order  to  be  at  all  marked;  and  if  more  than  these  inter- 


A  "HIT"— SOUNDNESS  OF  PARENTS.  107 

vals  exist,  the  hit  cannot  be  said  to  depend  upon  the  reunion,  since 
this  must  occur  in  all  cases ;  and  what  is  common  to  all  cannot  be 
instanced  as  a  particular  cause  of  any  subsequent  result. 

THE  FACT  REALLY  is,  as  proved  by  thousands  of  examples,  that 
by  putting  A  and  B  together,  the  produce,  is  not  necessarily  made 
up  of  half  of  each.  Both  parents  have  qualities  belonging  to  the 
several  members  of  a  long  line  of  ancestors,  and  their  son  (or 
daughter)  may  possibly  be  made  up  of  as  many  as  seven  propor- 
tions of  one  parent,  and  one  proportion  of  the  other.  It  generally 
happens,  that  if  there  is  any  considerable  degree  of  consanguinity, 
or  even  a  great  resemblance  in  form,  to  some  of  the  ancestry  on 
each  side,  the  produce  will  draw  together  those  elements,  and  will 
be  made  up  of  the  characteristics  peculiar  to  them  in  a  very  large 
proportion.  This  accounts  for  the  preponderance  of  the  Touch- 
stone form  in  the  West  Australian  stock  ;  while  the  same  horse  is 
overpowered  in  Orlando  and  his  stock,  by  the  greater  infusion  of 
Selim  blood  in  the  dam  Vulture,  who  is  removed  exactly  in  the 
same  degree  as  Touchstone  from  Selim  and  his  brother  Castrel ; 
and  the  two  latter,  therefore,  have  more  influence  on  the  stock  than 
the  former.  Here,  then,  we  have  two  remarkable  instances,  which 
each  show  a  hit  from  the  reunion  of  strains  after  two  out-crosses ; 
while,  at  the  same  time,  they  severally  display  an  example  of  two 
lines  overpowering  one  in  the  stock  of  the  same  horse.  It  may  be 
argued,  that  in  each  case  it  is  the  blood  of  the  dam  which  has 
overpowered  that  of  the  sire, — West  Australian  being  by  Mel- 
bourne, out  of  a  daughter  of  Touchstone;  while  Orlando  is  by 
Touchstone,  out  of  a  mare  descended  from  two  lines  of  Selim  and 
his  brother  Castrel.  Now,  I  am  myself  a  great  believer  in  the  in- 
fluence of  the  dam  over  her  progeny,  and  therefore  I  should  be 
ready  to  accept  this  argument,  were  it  not  that,  under  ordinary 
circumstances,  both  Melbourne  and  Touchstone  have  been  sure  to 
reproduce  their  likenesses  in  their  several  sons  and  daughters. 
Every  racing  man  who  has  been  on  the  turf  while  the  Melbournes 
and  Touchstones  were  in  their  glory,  was  able,  in  almost  all  in- 
stances, to  say  at  the  first  glance,  "  That  is  a  Melbourne  or  a  Touch- 
stone colt  or  filly."  But,  in  the  cases  of  Orlando  and  West  Aus- 
tralian, the  resemblance  to  their  respective  sires  was  not  apparent; 
and,  as  I  before  observed,  it  is  still  less  visible  in  their  stock.  In 
the  language  of  the  stud,  this  is  called  "going  back"  to  a  particular 
strain ;  and  it  is  so  constantly  observable,  that  there  is  no  necessity 
for  dwelling  further  upon  it. 

IMPORTANCE  OF  HEALTH  AND  SOUNDNESS  IN  BOTH  SIRE 
AND  DAM. 

OUR  PRESENT  BREED  OF  HORSES  is  undoubtedly  less  healthy 
than  that  of  our  ancestors;  and  this  tendency  to  unsoundness  is 


108  THE  HORSE. 

not  marked  in  any  particular  department  of  the  animal  economy, 
but  the  defect  shows  itself  wherever  the  strain  is  the  greatest  from 
the  nature  of  the  work  which  the  animal  has  to  perform.  Thus, 
the  racehorse  becomes  a  roarer,  or  his  legs  and  feet  give  way.  The 
hunter  fails  chiefly  in  his  wind  or  his  hocks,  because  he  is  not  used 
much  on  hard  ground,  and  therefore  his  fore  legs  are  not  severely 
tried,  as  in  the  case  with  the  racer,  who  often  has  to  extend  him- 
self over  a  course  rendered  almost  as  hard  as  a  turnpike-road  by 
the  heat  of  a  July  or  August  sun.  The  harness-horse  often  be- 
comes a  roarer,  from  the  heavy  weights  that  he  has  to  draw,  espe- 
cially if  his  windpipe  is  impeded  by  his  head  being  confined  by 
the  bearing-rein.  The  hack,  again,  suffers  chiefly  in  his  legs,  from 
our  hard  Macadamised  roads;  while  the  cart-horse  becomes  unsound 
in  his  hocks  or  his  feet,  the  former  parts  being  strained  by  his 
severe  pulls,  and  the  latter  being  battered  and  bruised  against  the 
ground,  from  having  to  bear  the  enormous  weight  of  his  carcass. 
But  it  is  among  our  well-bred  horses  that  unsoundness  is  the  most 
frequent ;  and  in  them,  I  believe,  it  may  be  traced  to  the  constant 
breeding  from  sires  and  dams  which  have  been  thrown  out  of  train- 
ing, in  consequence  of  a  break-down,  or  "  making  a  noise,"  or  from 
some  other  form  of  disease  It  is  quite  true,  that  roaring  is  not 
necessarily  transmitted  from  father  to  son;  and  it  is  also  manifest 
that  there  are  several  causes  which  produce  it,  some  of  which  are 
purely  accidental,  and  are  not  likely  to  be  handed  down  to  the  next 
generation.  The  same  remarks  apply  to  the  eyes;  but,  in  the  main, 
it  may  be  concluded  that  disease  is  hereditary,  and  that  a  sound 
horse  is  far  more  likely  to  get  healthy  stock  than  an  unsound  one. 
In  the  mare,  probably,  health  is  still  more  essential ;  but  if  the 
breeder  regards  his  future  success,  whether  he  is  establishing  a 
stud  of  racehorses,  or  of  those  devoted  to  any  kind  of  slower  work, 
he  will  carefully  eschew  every  kind  of  unsoundness,  and  especially 
those  which  are  of  a  constitutional  character.  If  a  horse  gets 
blind  in  an  attack  of  influenza,  or  if,  without  any  previous  indica- 
tions of  inflammation,  he  breaks  down  from  an  accidental  cause, 
the  defect  may  be  passed  over,  perhaps ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  when 
the  blindness  comes  on  in  the  form  of  ordinary  cataract,  or  the 
break-down  is  only  the  final  giving-way  in  a  leg  which  has  been 
long  amiss,  I  should  strongly  advise  an  avoidance  of  the  horse 
which  has  displayed  either  the  one  or  the  other.  I  believe  that  a 
government  inspection  of  all  horses  and  mares  used  for  breeding 
purposes  would  be  a  great  national  good ;  and  I  look  forward  to  its 
establishment,  at  no  distant  time,  as  the  only  probable  means  of 
insuring  greater  soundness  in  our  breeds  of  horses.  I  would  not 
have  the  liberty  of  the  subject  interfered  with.  Let  every  man 
breed  what  he  likes,  but  I  would  not  let  him  foist  the  produce  on 
the  public  as  sound,  when  they  are  almost  sure  to  go  amiss  as  soon 


BEST  AGE  TO  BREED  FROM.  109 

as  they  are  worked.  Ships  must  now  all  be  registered  at  Lloyd's, 
in  the  classes  to  which  they  are  entitled  by  their  condition  ;  and 
horses,  as  well  as  mares,  should  be  registered  in  the  same  way, 
according  to  the  opinion  which  the  government  inspector  may  form 
as  to  their  health  and  the  probability  of  getting  or  producing  sound 
and  useful  foals.  The  purchaser  would  call  for  the  registration- 
mark,  when  he  asked  for  the  pedigree  of  the  horse  he  was  about 
to  buy;  and  if  it  was  not  a  favorable  one,  he  would,  of  course,  be 
placed  upon  his  guard.  If  this  plan  could  be  carried  out  in  prac- 
tice, as  well  as  it  looks  on  paper,  much  good  might  be  done,  I  am 
assured ;  but  we  all  know  that  inspectors  are  but  mortals,  and  that 
they  are  liable  to  be  biassed  in  more  ways  than  one.  Still,  I  be- 
lieve that  the  evil  is  becoming  so  glaring,  that  something  must 
soon  be  done  ;  and  I  see  no  other  mode  so  likely  as  this  to  be  ad- 
vantageous to  the  interests  of  the  purchaser  and  user  of  the  horse. 

BEST  AGE  TO  BREED  FROM. 

THE  GENERAL  OPINION  throughout  England  is,  that  one  or 
other  of  the  parents  should  be  of  mature  age;  and  that  if  a  very 
young  mare  is  chosen,  the  horse  should  not  be  less  than  eight,  ten, 
or  twelve  years  old.  If  both  are  very  young  or  very  old,  the  pro 
duce  is  generally  small  and  weakly ;  but  by  adopting  the  plan  above- 
mentioned,  the  services  of  young  and  old  may  be  fully  utilized.  A 
great  many  of  our  very  best  performers  on  the  turf  have  been  got 
by  old  stallions ;  as,  for  instance,  Whisker,  son  of  Waxy,  in  his 
twenty-second  year ;  Emilius,  son  of  Orville,  in  his  twentieth ; 
Voltigeur  and  Newminster,  whose  sires  were  respectively  twenty-one 
and  seventeen ;  Blink  Bonny,  who  was  got  by  Melbourne,  in  his 
twentieth  year;  and  Wild  Dayrell,  by  Ion,  when  seventeen  years  old. 
To  these  may  be  added,  Gemma  di  Vergy,  Lifeboat,  and  Gunboat, 
three  celebrated  sons  of  Sir  Hercules,  and  all  got  by  him  after  he 
was  twenty  years  old — the  last  named  when  he  was  twenty-five 
years  of  age.  So,  also,  many  were  out  of  old  mares ;  including 
Priam,  whose  dam  was  twenty  when  she  dropped  him;  Crucifix, 
the  daughter  of  Octaviana,  when  twenty-two  years  old ;  Lottery, 
out  of  Mandane,  in  her  twentieth  year  ;  and  Brutandorf,  produced 
by  the  same  mare  when  she  was  twenty-two.  From  these  instances, 
the  breeder  may  conclude  that  age  is  no  bar  to  success,  if  matched 
with  youth  on  the  other  side;  but  the  instances  of  success  in  breed- 
ing from  two  aged  parents  are  rare  indeed.  It  is  next  to  be  ascer- 
tained what  is  the  earliest  age  at  which  this  animal  can  be  relied 
on  for  breeding ;  and  here,  again,  example  is  better  than  theory. 
The  most  remarkable  instance  of  moderate  success  in  adopting  this 
plan  is  in  that  of  The  Ugly  Buck,  whose  dam,  Monstrosity,  was 
put  to  Venison  when  only  a  two-year-old.  The  horse,  also,  was 
not  more  than  seven,  and  the  dam  of  Monstrosity  bred  her  in  her 
10 


110  THE  HORSE. 

fourth  year.  But  though  Ugly  Buck  promised  well  as  a  two-year- 
old,  he  failed  in  his  subsequent  career,  and  his  example  is  not,  there- 
fore, to  be  considered  as  at  all  conclusive.  Still,  his  is  a  most  ex- 
traordinary instance,  and  as  such  it  should  not  be  lost  sight  of. 
There  are  many  cases  in  which  the  first  produce  of  a  mare  has  been 
her  best;  such  as,  in  former  times,  Mark  Anthony,  Conductor, 
Shuttle  Pope,  Filho  da  Puta,  Sultan,  Pericles,  Oiseau,  Doctor  Syn- 
tax, Manfred,  and  Pantaloon.  Nevertheless,  these  may  be  con- 
sidered to  be  exceptions,  and  a  large  majority  of  the  brood  mares 
in  the  Stud-book  are  credited  with  their  most  successful  produce 
subsequently  to  their  first.  The  rule  generally  adopted  is  to  wait 
till  the  mare  is  three  years  old  before  breeding  from  her,  and  then 
to  put  her  to  a  horse  of  at  least  full  maturity — that  is  to  say,  seven 
or  eight  years  old. 

THE  INFLUENCE  OF  THE  SIRE  AND  DAM  RESPECTIVELY. 

I  HAVE  ALREADY,  at  page  40,  alluded  to  this  question  as  relating 
to  the  breeding  of  the  Arab  horse  in  his  native  country,  and  have 
there  shown  that  the  opinions  held  by  Abd-el-Kader,  in  modern 
days,  do  not  coincide  with  those  which  have  long  been  supposed 
to  be  general  in  Arabia.  In  the  passage  which  I  have  there 
quoted,  this  celebrated  chief  attempts  to  define  the  exact  part  which 
each  parent  takes  in  producing  the  foal,  but  he  goes  still  farther  in 
subsequent  answers  to  the  questions  asked  by  General  Daumas,  in 
relation  to  the  value  put  by  the  Arabs  on  their  stallions  and  mares 
respectively.  To  these  Abd-el-Kader  replies  as  follows:  "It  is 
true  that  Arabs  prefer  mares  to  horses,  but  only  for  the  following 
reasons :  the  first  is  that  they  look  at  the  profit  which  may  arise 
from  a  mare  as  very  considerable.  Some  Arabs  have  realized  as 
much  as  20,000  dollars  from  the  produce  of  one  mare.  They  have 
a  proverb  that  'the  fountain-head  of  riches  is  a  mare  that  produces 
a  mare.'  This  is  corroborated  by  the  prophet  Mahomet,  who  says, 
'  Let  mares  be  preferred,  their  bellies  are  a  treasure,  their  backs  the 
seat  of  honor/  The  greatest  blessing  is  an  intelligent  wife  or  a 
mare  that  produces  plenty  of  foals."  These  words  are  thus  ex- 
plained by  commentators :  Their  bellies  are  a  treasure  because  the 
mare  by  her  produce  increases  the  riches  of  her  master ;  and  their 
backs  are  the  seat  of  honor,  because  the  pace  of  a  mare  is  easier 
than  that  of  a  horse ;  and  there  be  those  that  say  it  is  sufficiently 
so  as  in  time  to  render  a  horseman  effeminate.  The  second  reason 
is  that  a  mare  does  not  neigh  in  war,  that  she  bears  hunger,  thirst, 
and  heat  better  than  a  horse,  and  that  therefore  she  is  more  useful 
to  people  whose  riches  consist  in  camels  and  sheep.  Now  all  the 
world  knows  that  our  camels  and  sheep  thrive  only  in  the  desert, 
where  the  soil  is  so  arid  that  Arabs  drinking  chiefly  milk  find  water 
seldom  oftener  than  every  eight  or  ten  days,  in  consequence  of  the 


INFLUENCE  OF  SIRE  AND  DAM.  Ill 

distance  between  the  pasturages,  which  are  only  to  be  found  in  the 
neighborhood  of  wells.  The  mare  is  like  the  serpent,  their  pow- 
ers increase  in  hot  weather  and  in  arid  countries.  Serpents  which 
live  in  cold  or  watery  countries  have  little  venom  or  courage,  so 
that  their  bite  is  seldom  mortal,  whereas  those  that  live  in  hot 
countries  are  more  irritable,  and  the  virulence  of  their  poison  is 
increased.  Whilst  the  horse  can  less  easily  bear  the  heat  of  the 
sun,  the  mare,  doubtless  from  constitutional  causes,  finds  her  ener- 
gies increase  with  the  greatest  heat.  The  third  reason  is  that  the 
mare  requires  less  care  and  less  nourishment.  The  owner  can  lead 
and  turn  her  out  to  graze  with  the  sheep  and  camels,  and  he  is  not 
obliged  to  have  a  person  constantly  watching  her;  whereas  a  horse 
cannot  do  without  being  highly  fed,  and  he  cannot  be  turned  out 
without  an  attendant  for  obvious  reasons.  These  are  the  true  rea- 
sons of  an  Arab's  preference  for  mares.  It  does  not  arise  from 
the  foal  inheriting  the  qualities  of  the  dam  rather  than  those  of  the 
sire ;  it  does  not  proceed  from  its  being  better  at  all  times  and 
under  all  circumstances  to  ride  a  mare  rather  than  a  horse  j  but  it 
is  based  upon  material  interests,  and  on  the  necessities  enforced  by 
the  description  of  life  which  Arabs  lead.  It  must,  however,  be 
admitted  that  a  horse  is  more  noble  than  a  mare.  He  is  stronger, 
more  courageous,  and  faster.  That  a  horse  is  stronger  than  a  mare 
is  thus  proved.  If  both  were  struck  by  the  same  mortal  wound 
a  mare  would  fall  at  once,  but  a  horse  would  seldom  drop  until  he 
had  carried  his  rider  into  safety.  I  saw  a  mare  struck  by  a  ball 
on  the  leg  j  the  bone  was  broken ;  unable  to  bear  the  pain  she  fell 
immediately.  A  horse  was  hit  in  the  same  manner ;  the  broken 
limb  hung  only  by  the  skin ;  he  continued  his  course,  supporting 
himself  on  his  sound  leg,  until  he  bore  his  rider  from  the  battle- 
field and  then  fell.  The  Arabs  prefer  mares  to  horses  for  the  rea- 
sons I  have  given,  and  those  reasons  are  sufiicient  to  show  why 
amongst  us  the  value  attached  to  the  possession  of  a  mare  is  greater 
than  that  they  attach  to  the  possession  of  a  horse,  even  though  the 
breeding  of  each  were  the  same ;  for  whilst  on  the  one  hand  the 
foal  takes  more  after  the  sire  than  the  dam,  on  the  other  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  horse  cannot  gain  in  many  years  as  much  as  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  mare  can  gain  in  one  year  if  she  throw  a  foal. 
However,  when  a  horse  has  displayed  any  extraordinary  qualities, 
it  often  happens  that  he  will  not  be  parted  with,  probably  pro- 
ducing to  his  master  in  the  way  of  booty  or  otherwise  as  much  as 
the  most  valuable  mare.  I  saw  amongst  the  Annazas,  a  tribe  ex- 
tending from  Bagdad  to  Syria,  horses  so  beyond  all  price  that  it 
was  almost  impossible  to  purchase  them,  and  certainly  impossible 
to  pay  ready  money  for  them.  These  animals,  of  a  fabulous  value, 
are  sold  only  to  the  highest  personages,  or  to  rich  merchants  who 
pay  for  them  by  thirty  or  forty  instalments,  or  by  a  perpetual  rent 


112  THE  HORSE. 

settled  on  the  vendor ^r  his  deceudants.  The  birth  of  a  horse  can 
never  be  considered  a  misfortune  by  an  Arab,  however  much  he 
may  prefer  a  mare  for  the  material  advantages  which  they  procure. 
Mares  almost  always  produce,  and  it  is  on  that  account  principally 
that  they  are  preferred.  I  repeat  it — the  birth  of  an  animal  that 
guarantees  its  master  against  humiliation  can  never  be  considered 
a  misfortune.  A  poet  says  :  '  My  brothers  reproach  me  with  niy 
debts,  yet  I  never  contracted  one  but  for  an  honorable  purpose. 
In  giving  the  bread  of  heaven  to  all,  in  purchasing  a  horse  of  noble 
race,  and  buying  a  slave  to  attend  upon  me." — Bailey's  Magazine 
of  Sports,  June,  1860. 

MY  OWN  BELIEF  in  this  matter,  founded  upon  observations  made 
during  a  long  series  of  years  on  the  horse  as  well  as  the  dog,  is 
that  no  rule  can  be  laid  down  with  any  certainty.  Much  depends 
upon  the  comparative  physical  power  and  strength  of  constitution 
in  each  parent,  even  more  perhaps  than  the  composition  of  the 
blood.  There  have  been  many  instances  of  two  brothers  being 
used  in  the  stud,  both  among  horses  and  greyhounds,  in  which  one 
has  almost  invariably  got  his  stock  resembling  himself  in  all  par- 
ticulars, not  even  excluding  color,  while  the  descendants  of  the 
other  have  rarely  been  recognisable  as  his.  Thus  among  horses 
the  Touchstones  have  been  mostly  brown  or  dark  bay,  and  as  a  lot 
have  shown  a  high  form  as  racehorses,  while  the  Launcelots  have 
been  of  all  colors,  and  have  been  below  mediocrity  on  the  turf. 
Several  examples  of  the  same  nature  may  be  quoted  from  among 
greyhounds,  such  as  Hanter,  Gipsey  Prince,  and  Gipsey  Royal, 
three  brothers  whose  stock  were  as  different  as  possible,  but  the 
fact  is  so  generally  recognised  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  dwell  upon 
it.  Now  surely  this  difference  in  the  power  of  transmitting  the 
likeness  of  the  sire,  when  the  blood  is  exactly  the  same  as  it  is 
observed  to  extend  over  large  numbers,  can  only  depend  upon  a 
variation  in  individual  power.  Not  only  does  this  apply  to  the 
males,  but  the  females  also  show  the  same  difference.  Some  mares 
have  gone  on  producing  foals  which  afterwards  turned  out  first- 
class  whatever  horse  they  were  put  to,  as,  for  instance,  Phryne 
(dam  of  winners  by  Pantaloon,  Melbourne,  and  The  Flying  Dutch- 
man), Barbelle,  who  produced  Van  Tromp  by  Lanercost,  De  Witt 
by  The  Provost,  and  The  Flying  Dutchman  by  Bay  Middleton. 
Alice  Hawthorne,  successively  as  well  as  successfully  put  to  Bird- 
catcher,  Melbourne,  Touchstone,  Windhound,  Melbourne  or  Wind- 
hound,  and  Sweetmeat ;  and  lastly,  Ellerdale,  dam  of  Ellington 
and  Ellermere,  and  Gildermire  by  Flying  Dutchman,  Summerside 
by  West  Australian,  and  Wardersmarke  by  Birdcatcher.  On  ap- 
pealing to  the  greyhound,  also,  we  see  some  remarkable  instances 
within  the  last  few  years,  of  which  Mr.  Jardine's  Ladylike  and 
Mr.  Randell's  Riot  may  be  considered  as  very  strong  cases  in  point. 


CHOICE  OF  SIRE  AND  DAM.  113 

The  latter  bitch  also  may  be  instanced  as  having  been  extremely 
successful  in  the  stud,  while  her  own  brother,  Ranter,  in  the  same 
kennel,  was  a  total  failure.  There  must  consequently  be  something 
more  than  mere  breeding  to  produce  a  successful  result,  and  this  I 
am  inclined  to  think  resides  in  the  strength  of  the  constitution 
possessed  by  the  individual. 

BUT  EVEN  SUPPOSING  the  horse  or  mare  displays  this  constitu- 
tional power,  there  is  something  which  controls  it,  as  we  have  seen 
in  the  two  cases  already  instanced  of  Orlando  and  West  Australian. 
In  the  former  horse  the  influence  of  the  sire,  great  as  it  usually 
has  been  shown  to  be,  was  compelled  to  succumb  to  the  combina- 
tion of  the  three  lines  traceable  to  Selim  and  his  brother  Castrel, 
while  in  the  other  this  same  horse  Touchstone  prevailed  (still, 
however,  on  the  side  of  the  dam)  apparently  only  because  there 
was  a  combination  of  two  very  recently  separated  lines  of  Waxy 
blood  through  his  sons  Whalebone  and  Whisker.  The  second  of 
these  examples  is  the  more  worthy  of  note,  because  in  tracing- 
back  the  lines  of  the  sire  and  dam,  the  name  of  Trumpeter  from 
whom  Melbourne  is  lineally  descended  is  met  with  three  times  in 
the  pedigree  of  the  former,  and  four  times  in  that  of  the  latter. 
Here  then  but  for  the  nearness  of  the  two  lines  of  Waxy  I  should 
have  expected  the  produce  to  follow  the  Trumpator  strain  through 
Melbourne,  but  as  I  have  already  observed,  beyond  the  third  re- 
move this  influence  is  very  much  weakened.  We  may  therefore 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  it  is  not  always  superior  strength  of 
constitution,  nor  the  greater  purity  or  antiquity  of  the  blood  which 
determines  the  influence  to  be  expected  by  either  parent,  but  that 
sometimes  the  one  and  sometimes  the  other  is  the  cause.  And  as 
the  former  cannot  well  be  determined,  the  latter  is  the  foundation 
for  the  plans  of  the  breeder,  who  will  on  the  whole  do  well  to  fol- 
low the  maxims  first  laid  down  by  that  celebrated  breeder  of  horses 
and  cattle,  the  second  Earl  Spencer,  whose  opinions  were  in  con- 
formity with  the  13th  axiom  for  breeders  which  I  have  inserted  at 
page  101. 

CHOICE   OF   SIRE   AND  DAM. 

THE  NECESSITY  FOR  HEALTH  in  each  parent  has  already  been 
insisted  on,  but  beyond  this  point,  which  is  generally  admitted, 
there  are  several  others  to  be  attended  to.  Thus,  since  the  pre- 
ponderance of  either  over  the  form  and  temper  of  the  progeny  will, 
in  all  probability,  fall  to  that  one  which  has  the  superior  purity  of 
blood,  it  follows  that  if  the  breeder  wishes  to  alter  in  any  important 
particular  the  qualities  possessed  by  his  mare,  he  must  select  a 
horse  which  is  either  better  bred  or  some  of  whose  lines  will  coa- 
lesce with  those  of  the  dam's,  which  it  is  desired  to  perpetuate. 
Thus,  supposing  a  mare  to  be  made  up  of  four  lines,  two  of  which 
10* 


114  THE  HORSE. 

are  decidedly  bad,  and  one  which  is  so  good  as  to  attract  the  notice 
of  her  owner,  then  let  him  look  around  and  select  some  horse  in 
whose  pedigree  is  to  be  found  a  similar  strain,  taking  care  that  the 
relationship  is  not  so  close  as  to  lead  to  disappointment  on  the  score 
of  the  bad  effects  attributable  to  in-breeding.  But  there  are  many 
brood  mares  not  in  the  Stud-book,  whose  pedigrees  are  not  ascer- 
tainable,  and  in  their  case  this  rule  will  not  apply.  Here  a  different 
plan  must  be  pursued,  and  a  horse  must  be  chosen  whose  shape, 
action,  or  temper  coincides  with  the  particular  quality  which  it  is 
desired  to  perpetuate.  I  am  strongly  inclined  to  believe  that  it  is 
comparatively  of  little  use  to  look  about  for  sires  who  possess  those 
qualities  in  which  the  dam  is  deficient.  Such  a  course  of  proceed- 
ing has  so  constantly  ended  in  disappointment,  within  my  own 
knowledge,  that  I  believe  I  am  justified  in  condemning  it.  A  stal- 
lion (whether  horse  or  greyhound,  the  same  is  observable)  is  known 
to  have  been  very  fast,  or  very  stout,  as  the  case  may  be,  and  hav- 
ing obtained  the  one  character  or  the  other,  breeders  have  supposed 
that  they  have  only  to  send  mares  deficient  in  either  quality,  and 
they  would  insure  its  development  in  the  produce.  If  the  mare  or 
bitch  happens  to  possess  among  her  ancestry  stout  or  fast  lines  of 
blood,  the  produce  will  display  the  one  or  the  other,  if  she  is  put  to 
a  horse  possessing  them ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  if  the  lines  of  the 
dam  are  all  fast,  or  all  stout,  no  first  cross  with  a  sire  possessing 
the  opposite  qualities  will  be  likely  to  have  any  effect,  though  no 
doubt  there  are  some  few  exceptions  to  this,  as  to  all  other  rules. 
The  instances  in  support  of  this  position  are  so  numerous  within 
my  own  knowledge,  that  I  should  scarcely  be  able  to  make  a  be- 
ginning, and  every  one  draws  upon  his  own  experience,  or  who 
will  examine  the  "  Stud  Book"  and  the  "  Coursing  Calendar"  will 
find  examples  without  end  throughout  every  volume  of  each.  It 
would  be  invidious  to  select  any  stallion  now  in  this  country,  but 
among  those  which  have  been  well  tried  here  in  the  stud,  and  are 
here  no  longer,  may  be  mentioned  the  Flying  Dutchman.  This 
horse  was  well  known  to  have  been  himself  not  only  fast,  but  stout, 
and,  as  a  consequence,  even  those  breeders  who  are  aware  of  the 
necessity  for  regarding  both  of  these  qualities  were  induced  to 
breed  from  him,  expecting  that  the  result  would  be  to  give  them 
similar  stock  in  the  next  generation.  The  contrary,  however,  was 
the  case.  In  many  cases  speed  was  developed,  but  in  almost  every 
instance,  without  an  exception,  that  speed  was  not  allied  with  stay- 
ing power.  The  unlooked-for  result  has  been  attributed  to  his 
sire,  Bay  Middleton,  whose  stock  have  been  notoriously  flashy  ;  but 
if  the  pedigree  of  Barbelle,  his  dam,  is  carefully  examined,  a  still 
stronger  reason  may  be  assigned.  If  her  lines  are  traced  back  five 
generations,  it  will  be  seen  that  out  of  her  thirty-two  progenitors 
in  that  remove  fourteen  are  descended  from  Herod  or  his  sire, 


CHOICE  OF  SIRE  AND  DAM.  115 

Tartar,  and  these  in  addition  to  the  already  overflowing  quantum 
of  the  same  blood  in  Bay  Middleton  himself.  Now  I  am  a  great 
admirer  of  the  blood  of  Herod,  and  I  believe  him  to  be  one  of  the 
chief  foundations  of  the  high  form  of  our  modern  horses ;  but  its 
peculiar  characteristic  is  speed,  not  stoutness,  and  it  requires  a 
combination  with  the  stouter  blood  of  Eclipse,  or  some  other  horse 
of  that  strain,  to  make  the  possessor  capable  of  staying  a  distance. 
With  these  fast  lines  the  produce  of  Barbelle  has  always  been  fast, 
but  it  can  scarcely  occasion  surprise  that  her  stoutest  son,  Van 
Tromp,  sho  ild  be  by  Lanercost,  nor  that  Orlando,  with  his  double 
lines  of  Selim  and  Castrel  blood,  should  get  a  mere  half-miler  like 
Zuyder  Zee.  The  Flying  Dutchman  was,  no  doubt,  a  grand  per- 
former himself,  but  his  may  be  regarded  as  a  somewhat  exceptional 
case,  and  this  opinion  is  supported  by  the  failure  of  his  own  bro- 
ther (Vanderdecken)  on  the  turf,  although  cast  in  a  mould  which 
would  lead  one  to  expect  a  still  greater  success. 

IN  PAYING  ATTENTION  TO  THE  PERFORMANCES  of  the  ancestry 
of  both  sire  and  dam,  regard  must  also  be  had  to  their  size,  as  this 
element  is  considered  of  much  importance.  Neither  a  large  nor  a 
small  sire  or  dam  will  perpetuate  the  likeness  of  himself  or  herself 
unless  descended  from  a  breed  which  is  either  the  one  or  the  other. 
It  only  leads  to  disappointment  to  breed  from  a  tall  stallion  or 
mare  if  either  is  only  accidentally  so,  and  not  belonging  to  a  breed 
generally  possessing  the  same  characteristics.  Many  a  small  mare 
or  bitch  has  surprised  her  owner  by  producing  him  animals  much 
larger  than  herself,  but  on  tracing  her  pedigree  it  will  almost  al- 
ways be  found  to  contain  the  names  of  animals  of  above  the  average 
size.  Moderately  small  mares  are  generally  of  a  stronger  consti- 
tution than  very  large  ones,  and  on  that  account  they  will  often 
answer  the  purposes  of  the  stud  better  than  larger  animals,  pro- 
vided they  are  of  a  sort  usually  cast  in  the  mould  which  is  desired. 
This  should  never  be  lost  sight  of  by  the  breeder,  and  where,  as 
in  breeding  thorough-breds,  the  pedigree  can  be  traced  far  enough 
for  this  purpose,  there  is  no  excuse  for  neglecting  the  circumstance. 

THE  ABOVE  PRECAUTIONS  are  sufficient  in  all  those  cases  where 
the  pedigree  is  attainable,  but  there  are  many  brood  mares,  as  I 
before  remarked,  in  which  nothing  is  known  of  their  antecedents. 
Here,  the  breeder  can  only  act  upon  the  general  rule  that  "  like 
produces  like/'  and  cannot  take  advantage  of  the  addition  which 
I  have  made  to  the  12th  axiom,  at  page  101,  of  the  words,  "or  the 
likeness  of  some  ancestor."  In  such  cases,  for  the  reason  which  I 
have  given,  disappointment  will  constantly  attend  upon  the  first 
experiments,  and  until  the  mare  has  produced  her  first  foal,  and  he 
has  gone  on  to  his  third  or  fourth  year,  the  value  of  the  dam  can 
hardly  b«  ascertained.  Breeding  is  always,  more  or  less,  a  lottery 


116  THE  HORSE. 

but  when  it  is  carried  on  with  dams  of  unknown  parentage,  it  is 
ten  times  more  so  than  it  need  be.  Were  I  to  commence  the 
establishment  of  a  breeding  stud,  whether  of  cart  or  carriage 
horses,  hacks  or  hunters,  I  would  never  introduce  a  single  mare 
whose  dam  and  grand-dam  as  well  as  the  sire  and  grand-sire  would 
not  be  produceable  as  good  specimens  of  their  respective  kinds. 
Beyond  the  second  remove  there  would  always  be  some  difficulty  in 
going  with  the  lower-bred  mares,  but  I  would  certainly  go  as  far 
as  this  in  all  cases.  If  the  sire  and  dam,  grand-sire  and  grand- 
dam,  were,  on  the  whole,  of  desirable  form  and  performances,  I 
would  choose  the  produce  as  a  brood  mare,  but  not  otherwise ;  and 
though,  of  course,  I  should  be  obliged  to  pass  over  some  important 
defects  in  individuals,  I  would  not  do  so  if  they  were  common  to 
all,  or  nearly  all,  of  the  four.  In  this  way  I  should  expect  to  do 
more  than  by  simply  choosing  "  a  great  roomy  mare"  without 
knowing  her  pedigree,  in  the  belief  that  she  would  be  sure  to  re- 
produce her  likeness. 

THE  KIND  OF  HORSE  MOST  PROFITABLE  FOR  THE  BREEDER 
TO  CHOOSE. 

WHEN  A  PERSON  makes  up  his  mind  to  bestow  his  attention  on 
the  breeding  of  horses  as  a  speculation,  it  behooves  him  to  consider 
what  kind  is  best  suited  to  the  nature  of  his  land  and  the  length 
of  his  purse,  as  well  as  to  his  own  knowledge  of  horses.  Unless 
he  has  plenty  of  fine  upland  grass  and  a  command  of  money,  it  is 
quite  useless  for  him  to  think  of  the  race-horse  ;  nor  will  he  do 
well,  without  these  concomitants,  to  dabble  in  hunters.  Cart-horses, 
now-a-days,  pay  well  when  there  is  work  for  them  to  do  up  to  their 
third  or  fourth  year  ;  and  carriage-horses  are  likewise  a  good  specu- 
lation, when  the  land  is  suitable  to  their  development.  No  one, 
however,  should  turn  his  attention  to  the  breeding  of  hacks  on  a 
large  scale,  since  they  will  almost  inevitably  cost  more  than  they 
will  fetch  at  five  years  old.  The  farmer  who  keeps  one  or  two  "  nag  " 
mares  is  the  only  person  who  can  be  said  to  rear  hacks  without 
loss ;  and  he  only  does  so,  because  he  begins  to  use  them  for  his  own 
slow  work  as  soon  as  they  are  three  years  old.  Even  in  his  case, 
however,  I  much  doubt  whether  the  same  food  which  has  been 
given  the  colts  would  not  have  been  turned  to  greater  profit  if  given 
to  horned  cattle ;  and  the  only  thing  which  can  be  said  in  favor  of 
the  former  is,  that  they  eat  coarse  grass  which  the  latter  will  refuse. 
To  make  the  breeding  of  the  horse  turn  out  profitably,  the  hack 
and  inferior  kind  of  harness-horse  ought  to  be  the  culls  from  a  lot 
of  colts  intended  for  the  hunting-field,  and  then,  the  one  with  the 
other,  they  may  be  made  to  pay. 


THE  BROOD  MARE  AND  HER  FOAL.          117 

CONCLUDING  REMARKS  ON  BREEDING. 

THE  ANGRY  DISCUSSIONS  which  have  taken  place  in  the  year 
1860,  between  Lord  Redesdale  and  Admiral  Rous,  indicate  plainly 
what  is  the  general  opinion  on  the  subject  of  the  diminution  in 
the  stoutness  of  our  horses.  Breeders,  therefore,  should  turn  their 
attention  to  this  point,  and  should  be  doubly  careful  to  avoid 
weedy  or  diseased  sires  and  dams.  It  cannot  be  denied  that  our 
modern  thorough-breds  possess  size  and  speed;  but  they  certainly 
do  not  shine  in  staying  powers,  as  I  have  already  more  than  once 
remarked.  But  there  are  some  strains  particularly  free  from  this 
defect,  and  these  I  have  endeavored  to  point  out.  It  should  not, 
moreover,  be  forgotten  that  though  the  thorough-bred  horse  will 
bear  more  work,  especially  at  high  speed,  than  any  other  kind,  yet 
he  can  only  do  this  if  well  fed  and  warmly  housed.  Being  a 
native  of  a  warm  and  dry  climate,  he  requires  to  be  protected  from 
the  weather ;  and  the  young  stock  must  be  well  reared  in  all  re- 
spects, or  they  will  never  pay.  If,  therefore,  the  breeder  is  not 
determined  to  put  up  warm  hovels  in  erery  paddock,  and  if  he  is 
stingy  of  his  corn,  he  had  far  better  let  his  stud  of  mares  be  com- 
posed of  lower  bred  animals.  If  a  thorough-bred  horse  and  a 
donkey  are  both  fed  upon  the  lowest  quantity  and  quality  of  food 
which  will  keep  the  latter  in  condition,  the  donkey  would  beat  its 
high-bred  antagonist  over  a  distance  of  ground — that  is  to  say,  sup- 
posing the  experiment  to  be  continued  long  enough  to  produce  a 
permanent  effect  upon  the  two  animals.  A  cart-horse  colt,  or  one 
of  any  kind  of  low  blood,  will  do  well  enough  if  reared,  till  he  is 
put  to  work,  upon  grass  and  hay ;  but  a  race-horse  or  hunter,  of 
high  breeding,  would  show  a  badly-developed  frame,  and  be  com- 
paratively worthless  for  his  particular  kind  of  work,  if  he  were  not 
allowed  his  corn  from  the  time  that  he  is  weaned. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 
THE    BROOD    MARE   AND    HER    FOAL. 

The  Hovel  and  Paddock — General  Management  of  the  Brood- 
Mare —  Treatment  when  in  Foal — After  Foaling — Early  Man- 
agement of  the  Foal — Weaning. 

HAVING  ALREADY  ALLUDED  to  the  principles  which  should 
guide  the  breeder  in  the  choice  of  his  mares,  I  need  not  further 
allude  to  them  beyond  the  remark  that,  independently  of  those 
which  1  have  indicated,  he  must  take  care  that  they  are  each  pos- 
sessed of  a  frame  suitable  to  carry  a  foal,  and  of  a  constitution 
hardy  enough  to  sustain  the  drain  upon  the  system  caused  by  the 


118  THE  HORSE. 

young  animal,  both  before  and  after  birth.  If  the  pelvis  and  back 
ribs  are  not  large  and  deep,  the  foetus  will  not  have  room  to  be  de- 
veloped and  brought  into  the  world  ;  and  unless  the  mare  is  a  good 
feeder,  and  is  also  furnished  with  an  udder  which  will  give  suffi- 
cient milk,  she  will  not  afford  enough  nourishment  to  her  foal, 
which  will,  therefore,  be  weakly  and  badly  developed  in  its  pro- 
portions. The  shape  may  be  easily  detected  beforehand,  but  the 
constitution  and  milking  properties  cannot  so  well  be  predicated, 
though  the  experienced  eye  and  hand  of  the  stud-groom  will 
enable  him  to  give  a  tolerably  correct  guess. 

HOVEL  AND  PADDOCK. 

IF  THE  BREEDER  is  about  to  undertake  the  production  of  a 
number  of  horses  of  any  kind,  he  must  establish  a  regular  stud- 
farm,  which  for  all  horses  should  be  on  sound  upland,  with  a  sub- 
soil of  chalk  or  gravel.  The  presence  of  fine  white  clovers  is  in 
itself  almost  sufficient  to  show  that  the  soil  will  be  suitable  to  the 
horse ;  but,  if  possible,  there  should  be  an  absolute  practical  know- 
ledge that  the  situation  has  agreed  with  the  animal,  before  any 
heavy  investment  is  made.  If  the  surface  fall  is  good,  drain  ing- 
may  not  be  necessary,  but  in  most  cases  the  herbage  will  be  greatly 
improved  by  the  introduction  of  tiles.  Low,  marshy  situations  may 
serve  during  the  autumn  months  to  freshen  up  a  stall  horse,  but 
they  are  utterly  unfit  for  the  rearing  of  young  stock,  and  should 
be  carefully  avoided.  If  the  stud  is  highly  bred,  and  the  feeding 
is  to  be  good,  the  colts  will  be  very  mischievous,  and  unless  care 
is  taken  to  make  the  fences  safe,  they  will  break  bounds,  or  injure 
themselves  in  the  attempt.  Deep  ditches  are  very  unsafe,  for  the 
mare  as  well  as  her  foal  are  very  apt  to  get  cast  in  them,  with  a 
serious  or  fatal  injury  as  the  result.  Posts  and  rails  answer  well 
enough,  where  timber  is  plentiful,  but,  in  the  long  run,  they  are 
expensive  from  the  necessity  for  constant  repairs.  Banks  with  thorn 
hedges  on  the  top  are  the  very  best  of  all  means  for  enclosing  the 
paddocks,  and  are  even  better  than  stone  walls,  which,  however,  are 
excellent  for  the  purpose  if  they  have  the  soil  raised  against  their 
bases,  without  which  the  foal  is  liable  to  slip  up  against  their  sur- 
face, and  thus  sometimes  blemish  his  knees.  There  is  a  great 
difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  size  necessary  for  the  paddocks,  and 
the  number  of  mares  which  should  be  allowed  in  each.  In  some 
well  conducted  stud-farms,  as,  for  instance,  in  that  belonging  to  the 
Rawcliffe  Company,  near  York,  the  enclosures  are  very  large,  and 
a  dozen,  or  even  as  many  as  eighteen,  mares  and  their  foals  are 
turned  out  together  as  soon  as  the  weather  permits,  and  the  spring 
grass  grows  high  enough.  In  others,  as  at  the  Hampton  Court  and 
Middle  Park  establishments,  the  paddocks  are  each  only  calcu- 
lated to  take  three  or  four  mares  and  their  foals ;  and  the  yearlings, 


HOVEL  AND  PADDOCK.  119 

also,  are  never  allowed  to  exceed  four  in  any  one  paddock.  Mr. 
Martin,  the  clever  and  experienced  manager  of  the  first-named  stud, 
is  of  opinion  that  colts  should  have  room  enough  to  gallop,  and 
thus  early  accustom  their  joints  and  sinews  to  bear  the  strains  which 
they  must,  sometime  or  other,  be  subjected  to.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  argument  is  held  that  in  a  small  paddock  the  foal  gallops  quite 
as  much  as  in  the  larger  one,  and  puts  his  joints  to  the  strain  in 
stopping  himself  at  the  corners,  whilst  there  is  less  injury  from 
other  accidental  causes,  such  as  kicks  and  the  jamming  of  a  lot 
together  in  a  narrow  gateway.  On  the  whole  I  am  inclined  to  be- 
lieve that  the  latter  plan  is  the  best,  for  experience  shows  that  a 
well-fed  foal  will  gallop  daily,  for  hours  together,  even  in  a  two 
acre  paddock. 

AT  FOALING  TIME  each  mare  must  have  a  separate  hovel  or 
loose-box,  but  as,  practically,  it  is  found  that  she  always  gives 
some  few  hours'  notice  of  her  approaching  parturition,  it  is  the 
custom  to  bring  her  into  the  close  neighborhood  of  the  house  of 
the  stud -groom  at  night,  so  that  he  may  be  at  hand  to  render  her 
assistance,  if  necessary.  Any  loose-box  answers  for  that  purpose, 
if  it  does  not  open  to  a  warm  stable,  which  would  render  it  too 
hot  for  an  animal  which  has  been  for  months  exposed  to  the  open 
air.  But  after  foaling  the  mare  will  also  require  a  hovel  to  her- 
self for  six  w'eeks  or  two  months,  when  the  foal  will  be  strong 
enough  to  take  care  of  itself  in  running  among  other  mares. 
Indeed,  at  all  times,  the  mares  should  at  night  be  in  separate  hovels, 
even  when  during  the  day  they  run  in  the  same  paddock  with  two 
or  three  others.  This  hovel  should  be  about  twelve  to  fifteen  feet 
long,  and  not  less  than  ten  feet  wide.  The  height  may  easily  be 
too  great,  because  in  the  early  spring  the  weather  is  often  so 
severe  that  the  mare  cannot  impart  sufficient  heat  to  a  very  large 
volume  of  air.  From  eight  to  nine  feet  will  therefore  be  ample, 
the  former  being  well  suited  to  the  larger  area  which  I  have  given 
above,  and  the  latter  to  the  smaller.  It  is  a  very  common  plan, 
when  economy  is  much  studied,  to  build  four  hovels  back  to  back, 
at  the  angles  formed  by  four  small  runs,  by  which  a  saving  in  the 
internal  walls  is  effected.  This,  however,  necessitates  a  northerly 
or  easterly  aspect  for  two  out  of  the  four,  either  of  which  is  objec- 
tionable. Two  hovels  may  readily  be  placed  side  by  side  in  the 
most  desirable  situation,  and  these  may  be  made  to  open  into 
separate  runs.  The  walls  should  be  built  of  brick  or  stone,  which- 
ever is  locally  the  cheaper  material,  or  where  gorse  is  abundant 
they  may  be  formed  from  it,  being  the  cheapest  of  all. 

In  some  counties  what  is  called  "wattle  and  dab"  is  very 
generally  employed  for  outbuildings  of  this  kind,  and  when  they 
are  roofed  with  thatch,  which  carries  the  water  well  off  the  sides, 
it  answers  very  well,  It  is  composed  of  common  wood  quarter- 


120  THE  HORSE. 

ings,  with  the  uprights  connected  together  by  transverse  bars  like 
the  rounds  of  a  ladder,  about  eight  inches  apart.  When  the 
whole  framework  is  put  together  thus,  some  soil,  which  should  be 
clay  or  loam,  is  well  worked  together  with  straw  and  water  into  a 
tenacious  mixture,  which  is  forked  over  each  transverse  bar  in 
succession,  and  the  whole  smoothed  down  till  it  assumes  a  regular 
and  even  surface.  Cottages  and  outbuildings  are  put  up  in  this 
way  in  Devonshire  and  Dorsetshire  at  very  little  expense,  straw 
costing  the  farmer  little  or  nothing,  either  for  the  walls  or  the 
roof,  and  the  wood  being  also  the  produce  of  his  own  land.  The 
labor,  therefore,  is  the  only  part  which  costs  money,  and  that  is 
not  paid  for  at  a  very  high  rate,  where  wages  rarely  exceed  nine 
shillings  a  week.  When  gorse  is  used,  it  is  adopted  in  the  follow- 
ing way: — The  door-posts  and  uprights  are  first  fixed,  and  should 
be  either  of  oak — which  is  best — or  of  good  sound  Memel  fir; 
they  should  be  about  six  inches  by  four,  and  should  be  fixed  six 
feet  apart,  with  three  feet  sunk  in  the  ground.  After  thus  fixing 
the  framework,  and  putting  on  the  wall-plate  and  rafters,  the  whole 
internal  surface  is  made  good  by  nailing  split  poles  of  larch,  or 
other  timber,  closely  together  across  the  uprights,  taking  especial 
care  to  round  off  the  ends  when  they  appear  at  the  door-posts. 
Thus  the  whole  of  the  interior  is  tolerably  smooth,  and  no  accident 
can  happen  from  the  foal  getting  his  leg  into  any  crevice  between 
the  poles,  if  care  is  taken  to  nail  them  securely,  and  to  leave  no 
space  between  them.  WThen  this  internal  framework  is  finished, 
the  gorse  is  applied  outside,  as  follows :  It  is  first  cut  into  small 
branches,  leaving  a  foot-stalk  to  each,  about  twelve  or  fifteen  inches 
in  length :  these  branches  are  arranged  in  layers  between  the  up- 
rights, the  stalks  pointing  upwards  and  inwards,  and  the  prickly 
ends  downwards  and  outwards.  When,  by  a  succession  of  layers 
of  these  brushy  stalks,  a  height  of  eighteen  inches  has  been  raised, 
a  stout  and  tough  pole,  about  the  size  of  an  ordinary  broom-stick, 
and  six  feet  long,  is  laid  upon  the  middle  of  the  gorse,  and  so  as 
to  confine  it  against  the  split  poles  and  between  the  uprights.  The 
workmen  kneel  upon  this  pole,  and  by  its  means  compress  the 
gorse  into  the  smallest  possible  compass,  and  while  thus  pressed 
down,  and  against  the  internal  framework,  it  is  confined  to  the  lat- 
ter by  five  or  six  loops  of  strong  copper  wire.  When  this  is  pro- 
perly done,  the  gorse  is  so  firmly  confined,  and  withal  so  closely 
packed,  that  neither  wind  nor  rain  can  penetrate,  nor  can  all  the 
mischief-loving  powers  of  the  foal  withdraw  a  single  stalk.  After 
fixing  the  first  layer,  a  second  is  built  up  in  the  same  way,  and 
when  neatly  done  the  exterior  is  as  level  as  a  brick  wall ;  but  if 
there  are  any  very  prominent  branches  they  may  be  sheared  off 
with  the  common  shears,  or  taken  off  with  the  ordinary  hedging 
bill-hook.  When  it  is  desired  to  make  the  exterior  look  very 


HOVEL  AND  PADDOCK.  ,  121 

smooth,  a  hay-trusser's  knife  is  used  ;  but  the  natural  ends,  though 
not  so  level,  are  a  much  better  defence,  and  last  longer  than  the 
cut  gorse.  In  the  interior  the  stalks  sometimes  project,  and  if  so 
they  must  be  smoothly  trimmed  off.  The  roof  should  be  covered 
in  with  some  material,  which  is  cool  in  summer  and  warm  in  win- 
ter, and  for  this  purpose,  therefore,  nothing  is  so  bad  as  slate,  or 
so  good  as  thatch.  Objections  are  sometimes  made  to  the  latter 
material  that  it  harbors  vermin,  but  if  the  mares  are  well  fed,  I 
must  doubt  their  ever  becoming  lousy,  unless  these  parasites  are 
introduced  by  some  animal  from  without.  In  any  case,  tiles  are 
preferable  to  slates,  and  on  the  average  they  are  also  cheaper. 
Pantiles  are  not  easily  made  proof  against  the  wind,  but  plane- 
tiles,  when  properly  pointed,  are  quite  air-tight,  and  are  far  warmer 
in  cold  weather  than  slates,  while  they  are  also  cooler  in  summer. 
The  door  should  be  at  least  four  feet  or  four  feet  six  inches  wide, 
and  seven  feet  to  seven  feet  six  inches  high,  with  all  the  angles  to 
the  sides  and  top  of  the  frame  rounded  off  to  prevent  accident 
from  striking  the  hip  or  head.  The  door,  of  oak  or  elm,  should 
be  cut  in  half  across  the  middle,  so  as  to  allow  the  lower  half  to 
be  shut,  while  the  upper,  being  open,  admits  a  free  supply  of  air. 
A  small  window  should  be  inserted  in  the  wall,  for  light  and  ven- 
tilation when  the  door  is  closed.  When  straw  is  abundant  it  is 
usual  to  leave  the  floor  in  its  natural  state,  the  litter  absorbing  all 
that  falls  from  the  mare  and  foal,  and  being  changed  often  enough 
to  keep  the  place  dry.  In  case,  however,  this  cannot  be  done,  the 
flooring  should  be  similar  to  that  for  ordinary  stables,  that  is  to 
say,  laid  with  bricks  or  pebbles,  clinkers  being  much  too  expen- 
sive for  such  a  purpose.  Where  chalk  is  abundant,  it  forms  an 
excellent  floor,  if  a  drain  is  cut  all  round  the  building,  and  the  soil 
being  taken  out  to  the  depth  of  nearly  a  foot,  the  chalk  is  filled 
in  to  a  little  above  the  level  of  the  natural  surface,  and  is  then 
well  rammed  down,  a  drain  and  trap  being  inserted  in  the  middle. 
The  last  point  which  requires  consideration  is  the  kind  of  manger 
which  is  best  adapted  to  the  use  of  the  mare  and  her  foal,  if  the 
latter  is  to  be  fed  in  the  way  proper  to  thorough-bred  stock.  In 
any  case,  a  wooden  manger  of  the  ordinary  kind  should  be  fixed, 
with  a  staple  for  the  rack-chain  to  fasten  her  up.  A  hay  rack 
should  be  so  arranged  that  it  can  be  filled  from  the  outside  without 
difficulty;  which  is  easily  managed  by  building  a  little  wooden 
excrescence  on  to  one  of  the  outer  walls,  leaving  a  hole  in  the  latter 
for  the  mare  to  feed  herself  through.  A  wooden  lid,  covered  with 
zinc,  lifts  up  and  permits  the  introduction  of  the  fodder  without 
the  necessity  for  carrying  a  fork  into  the  hovel,  which  will  some- 
times injure  the  mare  or  her  foal.  Well-bred  young  animals  of 
this  species  are  so  mischievous  that  when  shut  up  they  will  jump 
into  any  place  which  can  possibly  hold  them,  and  many  a  broken 


122  THE  HORSE. 

leg  or  back  has  ensued  from  an  open  hay-rack,  placed  near  the 
ground,  attracting  the  gambols  of  a  foal.  A  few  wooden  bars 
nailed  across  the  opening  effectual ly  prevents  this,  while  the  addi- 
tion of  a  low  manger  in  another  corner  provides  for  the  feeding 
of  the  foal  with  kibbled  oats,  if  such  should  be  the  plan  adopted, 
and  the  fourth  is  occupied  by  a  water-tank.  External  to  the 
hovel  the  only  provision  necessary  is  a  yard,  which  may  be  omitted 
if  the  paddock  is  always  dry  from  the  land  being  well  drained. 
Unless  this  is  the  case,  however,  the  yard  should  always  be  pro- 
vided, as  there  are  many  days  throughout  the  year  when  the 
weather  is  fine  enough  over  head  to  allow  of  the  foal  being  turned 
out  of  doors  with  advantage,  if  it  can  be  protected  from  the  wet 
grass  or  wetter  soil.  A  yard  is,  therefore,  truly  valuable  in  the 
absence  of  a  dry  soil,  and  it  should  be  paved  with  bricks,  stones, 
or  pebbles,  well  covered  with  a  layer  of  litter,  to  prevent  slips  and 
strains. 

GENERAL  MANAGEMENT  OF  THE  BROOD  MARE. 

WHEN  IT  HAS  BEEN  DECIDED  to  breed  from  a  mare,  if  she  is 
not  already  thrown  out  of  work,  it  will  often  be  necessary  to  cool 
her  down,  by  turning  her  out  to  grass  and  taking  away  her  corn, 
before  she  will  become  stinted.  Thorough-bred  mares  are  not,  as 
a  rule,  allowed  to  take  the  horse  while  in  work ;  but  sometimes 
they  are  so  constantly  "  in  use/'  that  no  other  means  will  enable 
the  trainer  to  go  on  with  his  work  of  preparation.  There  is  a  won- 
derful difference  in  this  respect:  some  animals  are  rarely  "  in  use/' 
once  or  twice  a  year  being  the  outside ;  while  others  are  so  every 
nine  days  throughout  the  spring, — the  average,  perhaps,  being  in 
that  state  at  about  intervals  of  two  or  three  months  from  the  time 
of  shedding  their  coats  till  the  beginning  of  autumn.  Again,  some 
are  not  upset  in  their  work  by  this  natural  process ;  while  others 
refuse  to  feed,  lose  condition,  and  cannot  be  depended  on  for  half 
their  usual  exertions.  Either  extreme  requires  a  change  of  feed- 
ing ;  for,  on  the  one  hand,  the  cool  temperament  is  excited  by  the 
freedom  of  a  run  at  grass,  and  on  the  other,  the  warmer  one  is 
benefited  by  losing  the  heating  qualities  of  her  corn.  At  all  events, 
it  is  found,  in  practice,  that  though  the  majority  of  maiden  mares 
will  become  stinted  while  at  work,  yet  that  a  large  number  require 
a  run  at  grass  before  they  will  become  in  foal.  As  I  before  re- 
marked, thorough-bred  mares  are  generally  entirely  devoted  to  the 
stud  from  the  time  that  they  are  put  to  the  horse ;  but  there  are 
many  others  of  lower  breeding  which  their  owners  desire  to  work 
on  for  some  months  afterwards.  It  is  often  apparent  that  the  legs 
of  a  hack  or  harness-mare  are  wearing  out,  and  her  owner  decides 
upon  having  a  foal  from  her,  but  wishes  to  avoid  the  expense  of 
keep  from  the  spring,  when  he  puts  her  to  the  horse,  till  the  next 


TREATMENT  WHEN  IN  FOAL.  123 

January  or  February,  varying,  of  course,  with  the  time  of  foaling. 
All  mares  are  the  better  for  slow  work  up  to  within  two  months 
of  foaling  ;  but  they  should  not  be  ridden  or  driven  so  fast  as  to 
occasion  exhaustion.  Cart-mares  are  generally  used  to  within  a 
few  days  of  their  time,  taking  care  to  keep  them  at  light  work  and 
to  avoid  straining. them.  With  these  precautions,  if  the  legs  keep 
tolerably  sound,  a  mare  may  be  made  to  earn  her  keep  for  nine 
months  out  of  the  eleven  which  are  the  duration  of  her  pregnancy. 
THE  TIME  of  sending  the  mare  to  the  horse  will  vary  with  the 
purposes  for  which  her  produce  is  intended.  .  If  for  racing,  it  is 
desired  that  she  shall  foal  as  soon  as  possible  after  the  first  of 
January;  and  as  she  carries  her  foal  about  eleven  months,  the  first 
time  of  her  being  "  in  use"  after  the  first  of  February  is  the  period 
chosen  for  her.  All  other  horses  take  their  age  from  the  first  of 
May;  and  as  this  is  the  time  when  the  young  grass  begins  to  be 
forward  enough  for  the  use  of  the  mare,  the  breeder  is  not  anxious 
to  get  his  half-bred  foals  dropped  much  before  that  time.  As, 
however,  mares  are  very  uncertain  animals,  he  will  do  well  to  take 
advantage  of  the  first  opportunity  after  March,  as  by  putting  off 
the  visit  to  the  horse,  he  may  be  disappointed  altogether,  or  the 
foal  may  be  dropped  so  late,  that  winter  sets  in  before  it  has  ac- 
quired strength  to  bear  it.  These  remarks  apply  to  maiden  mares 
only ;  those  which  have  dropped  a  foal  are  generally  put  to  the 
horse  nine  or  ten  days  afterwards,  when  almost  every  mare  is  in 
season.  For  this  reason,  valuable  thorough-bred  mares  are  often 
sent  to  foal  at  the  place  where  the  sire  stands  who  is  intended  to 
be  used  next  time.  The  travelling  to  him  so  soon  after  foaling 
would  be  injurious  to  both  the  dam  and  her  foal,  and  hence  the 
precaution  I  have  named  is  adopted.  The  mare  then  remains  to 
be  tried  at  intervals  of  nine  days,  and  when  she  is  stinted,  the  foal 
is  strong  enough  to  bear  any  length  of  journey  with  impunity. 
Mares  and  their  foals  commonly  travel  by  road  twenty  miles,  or 
even  more,  for  this  purpose;  but  they  do  not  often  exceed  that 
distance,  and  about  fifteen  miles  a  day  is  quite  as  much  as  a  nine 
days'  old  foal  can  compass  without  injury,  and  that  done  very 
quietly,  the  mare  being  led  at  a  slow  pace  all  the  way. 

TREATMENT  WHEN  IN  FOAL. 

WHEN  THE  MARE  is  IN  FOAL,  if  not  intended  to  be  kept  at 
work,  she  should  be  turned  out  in  good  pasture;  but  it  should  not 
be  so  rich  and  succulent  as  to  disagree  with  her  stomach,  or  make 
her  unwieldy  from  fat.  The  former  mistake  is  a  constant  cause 
of  miscarriage,  the  bowels  becoming  relaxed  from  the  improper 
nature  of  the  food.  On  the  other  hand,  if  it  is  not  sufficiently 
good,  the  mare  will  become  thin,  and  will  starve  her  foal  in  its 
growth.  Mares  that  have  been  corned  highly  all  their  lives  should 


124  THE  HORSE. 

have  a  feed  or  two  daily,  after  they  are  six  months  gone,  and  espe- 
cially if  the  autumnal  grasses  are  not  rich  and  plentiful.  Most 
half-bred  animals,  however,  do  very  well  till  about  Christmas; 
after  which,  hay  and  corn,  with  a  few  carrots,  should  be  liberally 
given  them,  still  allowing  them  to  pick  up  what  grass  they  can  find 
in  their  paddocks.  Excessive  fat  is  a  state  of  disease,  and  inter- 
feres with  the  due  nutrition  of  the  foetus,  while  it  is  very  danger- 
ous at  foaling-time,  when  it  not  only  interferes  with  the  process, 
but  also  tends  to  produce  fever.  Supposing  the  mare  to  be  at 
work,  she  should  have  some  kind  of  green  food — lucerne  being  the 
best,  and  vetches,  perhaps,  the  worst  for  the  purpose,  the  latter 
being  too  heating,  especially  to  the  organs  contained  within  the 
pelvis.  Any  of  the  grasses  or  clovers  answer  well;  and,  after  they 
are  done,  carrots  form  an  excellent  succedaneum,  given  sliced  in  a 
bran  mash  every  night.  By  adopting  these  articles  of  food,  the 
mare  is  kept  free  from  inflammation,  and  yet  the  foal  is  well 
nourished,  which  are  the  two  essential  points  to  be  considered. 

EXCITEMENT  OF  EVERY  KIND  is  a  fertile  source  of  "  slipping" 
the  foal ;  and  everything  which  is  at  all  likely  to  have  that  effect 
should  be  carefully  avoided.  The  smell  of  blood  is  said  to  have  a 
very  prejudicial  influence  in  this  way;  and  there  is  no  doubt  that 
one  mare  miscarrying  will  in  some  mode  affect  others  in  proximity 
to  her.  Possibly  the  same  cause  may  act  on  all ;  but  it  seems  to 
be  generally  concluded  that  the  act  is  really  contagious,  either  from 
what  is  called  sympathy,  or  in  some  other  as  inexplicable  way.  If 
a  mare  has  "  slipped"  a  foal  in  a  previous  pregnancy,  double  care 
should  be  taken,  as  she  will  be  far  more  likely  to  do  so  again  than 
another  which  has  hitherto  escaped  the  accident.  It  occurs  most 
frequently  about  the  fourth  or  fifth  month,  therefore  extra  care 
should  be  taken  at  that  time.  The  suspected  individual  should  be 
kept  quiet  by  herself;  but  it  is  better  to  allow  her  the  run  of  a 
small  retired  paddock,  than  to  confine  her  to  her  hovel,  where,  for 
want  of  exercise,  she  will  become  restless  and  anxious.  Purging 
physic  should  not  be  given,  unless  it  is  absolutely  necessary;  and 
if  the  bowels  are  so  confined  as  to  require  some  stimulus  of  this 
kind,  and  bran  mashes  and  other  changes  in  the  food  fail  to  pro- 
duce any  effect,  choice  should  be  made  of  the  mildest  aperient 
which  is  likely  to  answer  the  purpose.  With  regard  to  the  ma- 
nagement of  the  mare  in  parturition,  I  shall  leave  its  consideration 
to  my  colleague,  who  will,  doubtless,  be  of  the  same  opinion  as 
myself,  that,  if  assistance  is  demanded,  it  is  safer  to  have  recourse 
at  once  to  a  properly  educated  veterinary  surgeon.  Stud  grooms 
who  have  had  much  experience  will  sometimes  be  able  to  aid 
Nature  with  advantage;  but,  in  the  long  run,  they  will  probably 
do  more  harm  than  good,  if  they  attempt  any  serious  interference. 


EARLY  TREATMENT  OF  THE  FOAL.  125 

TREATMENT  AFTER  FOALING. 

IN  A  HEALTHY  STATE  the  mare  very  soon  recovers  the  efforts 
which  she  has  made  in  bringing  forth  the  foal;  and,  in  fine  wea- 
ther, she  may  be  allowed  to  enter  her  paddock  on  the  second  day 
afterwards,  which  is  generally  soon  enough  to  suit  the  strength  of 
the  foal,  though  occasionally  the  young  animal  is  very  active  within 
six  hours  after  it  comes  into  the  world.  For  a  couple  of  months, 
or  perhaps  less  in  some  cases,  the  mare  and  foal  are  better  kept  in 
a  paddock  by  themselves ;  but  in  a  large  stud  this  is  difficult  when 
the  foals  come  very  quickly;  and  then  several  mares  of  quiet  tem- 
perament are  put  together,  still  keeping  separate  those  which  are 
shy  or  vicious.  Until  the  mare  can  get  plenty  of  grass,  she  should 
have  carrots,  bran  mashes,  and  a  feed  or  two  of  oats,  which  at  first 
are  better  given  in  the  shape  of  gruel — the  water  with  which  this 
is  made  having  the  chill  taken  off.  Rye-grass  is  cultivated  and  cut 
for  the  mares  daily  by  those  who  have  early  foals ;  but,  though  it 
is  better  than  hay,  it  is  not  equal  to  good  upland  clover-grass. 
Lucerne  is  excellent,  but  it  cannot  be  grown  so  early  as  rye.  I 
have  already  described,  at  page  123,  the  proper  time  for  again 
putting  the  mare  to  the  horse,  so  that  I  need  not  enter  into  that 
subject  here.  During  the  remainder 
of  the  time  of  suckling,  no  special 
treatment  is  required,  except  to  see 
that  the  mare  is  well  fed  and  protected 
from  the  weather.  At  weaning-time, 
she  sometimes  requires  a  dose  or  two 
of  cooling  medicine ;  but  generally  she 
is  so  nearly  dry,  that  no  interference 
is  required.  MARE  AND  FOAL< 

EARLY  TREATMENT  OF  THE  FOAL. 

IF  THE  YOUNG  ANIMAL  is  well  formed  and  healthy,  it  will  re- 
quire no  attention  beyond  that  which  I  have  specified  as  necessary 
for  the  dam.  There  are,  however,  several  accidents  to  which  it  is 
liable ;  such  as  rupture  either  at  the  navel  or  flank,  inversion  of 
the  feet,  &c.  j  all  of  which  will  be  treated  of  in  their  proper  places. 
About  the  time  of  the  mare  being  "  in  use,"  the  foal  is  generally 
purged  a  good  deal,  and  a  warm  drench  will  often  be  required.  At 
the  end  of  a  month,  or  sometimes  earlier,  the  foal  will  eat  bruised 
oats  ;  and  highly-bred  young  stock  are  generally  allowed,  from  this 
time,  first  a  single  quartern,  and  then  by  degrees  two  quarterns  of 
oats.  Half-breds,  and  even  cart-horses,  would  be  the  better  for  this 
stimulus  to  development ;  but  if  it  is  begun,  it  should  be  continued ; 
and,  unless  the  foal  shows  such  promise  that  it  is  expected  to  turn 
out  extraordinarily  well,  the  extra  expense  will  not  be  reimbursed. 
11* 


126  THE  HORSE. 

The  half-peck  of  oats  cannot  be  put  down  as  costing  less  than  six 
pounds  a  year;  and  thus,  at  five  years  of  age,  the  colt  will  have 
cost  thirty  pounds  more  than  if  he  had  been  fed  on  hay  and  grass 
alone.  Now,  between  a  race-horse  reared  on  corn,  and  another 
confined  to  hay  and  grass,  the  difference  in  value  would  be  a  thou- 
sand per  cent.;  and  in  first-class  hunters,  though  not  so  great  as 
this,  it  would  be  very  considerable.  But  among  inferior  horses,  on 
the  average,  it  would  scarcely  reach  the  sum  1  have  named  as  the 
prime  cost  of  the  oats;  and,  therefore,  though  in  the  depth  of 
winter  a  quartern  or  half  a  peck  is  generally  given  with  a  little  bran, 
yet,  when  there  is  good  grass,  this  is  neither  necessary  nor  is  it 
economical.  Shelter  from  the  weather  should,  however,  be  afforded 
to  colts  of  all  classes  during  the  winter  season ;  and  unless  they 
have  this,  they  soon  grow  out  of  form  and  lose  flesh,  however  well 
they  may  be  fed.  It  is  now  fully  recognised  that  warmth  and  pro- 
tection from  the  rain  encourage  the  growth  of  all  our  domestic 
animals ;  but  in  none  are  they  more  influential  than  in  the  one 
which  I  am  now  discussing.  A  colt  neglected  in  its  first  winter 
never  recovers  its  proper  shape,  nor  does  it  grow  into  the  size  and 
strength  of  body  and  limbs  which  naturally  appertain  to  its  breed. 
Independently,  therefore,  of  the  cruelty  in  exposing  the  young 
animal  to  a  climate  for  which  it  is  not  fitted,  the  plan  does  not 
pay;  and  on  the  latter  account,  if  not  on  the  former,  even  the 
most  heartless,  who  consider  their  own  interests,  will  make  suitable 
provision  for  protecting  their  young  horse-stock  from  the  inclem- 
ency of  our  winter  climate. 

THE  FOAL  SHOULD  BE  HANDLED  from  the  very  first  week  of  its 
existence ;  but  there  is  no  occasion  to  use  it  roughly  in  accustom- 
ing it  to  the  pressure  of  the  hand  on  all  parts  of  its  body  and 
limbs.  If  this  process  is  very  gradually  commenced,  no  resistance 
will  at  any  time  be  offered,  and  the  foal  will  allow  its  feet  to  be 
picked  up,  and  its  head  and  ears  to  be  rubbed,  without  taking 
offence.  Grooms  are  sometimes  in  the  habit  of  showing  off  their 
powers  in  this  way,  by  taking  the  foal  up  in  their  arms;  but  this 
can  do  no  good,  and  may  possibly  lead  to  injury  of  the  walls  of  the 
abdomen.  About  the  fourth  or  fifth  month,  and  before  weaning  is 
commenced,  a  light  head-collar  should  be  put  on ;  and  after  the 
foal  is  accustomed  to  its  pressure,  by  repeatedly  handling  the  part 
on  successive  days,  a  leading-rein  should  be  buckled  on,  and  the 
young  thing  enticed  to  follow  the  groom  without  any  absolute  co- 
ercion. At  the  same  time,  it  must  be  made  to  feel  that  resistance 
is  useless;  and  if  it  begins  to  pull,  it  must  on  no  account  be  al- 
lowed to  get  away,  the  groom  yielding  as  long  as  the  foal  pulls 
straight  back,  but  coercing  it  gently  with  a  side  strain.  A  care- 
fully handled  foal  will  rarely  give  any  trouble  in  this  way ;  but 
there  is  an  astonishing  variation  in  the  power  which  different  men 


WEANING.  127 

have  over  the  animal  creation.  Some  will  again  control  without 
using  the  slightest  violence,  while  others  will  be  always  fighting 
with  their  charge,  and  after  all  will  not  be  able  to  do  nearly  as 
much  with  them  as  their  more  quiet  and  clever  rivals.  The  latter 
class  should  never  be  allowed  to  have  anything  to  do  with  young 
horses ;  and  though  there  may  be  occasional  exceptions  which  re- 
quire severe  measures,  yet  if  once  a  man  is  found  resorting  to  vio- 
lence with  a  foal  which  he  has  had  the  management  of  from  the 
first,  he  should,  in  my  opinion,  be  removed  from  his  post;  or,  at 
all  events,  he  should  be  carefully  watched,  and  a  repetition  of  the 
offence  ought  to  be  considered  as  a  notice  to  quit.  Long  before 
the  coming  among  us  of  Mr.  Rarey,  this  was  recognised  amongst 
the  most  extensive  breeders  of  horses  in  this  country ;  and  though 
cruelty  was  not  unknown  among  them,  any  more  than  it  is  now,  it 
was  fully  recognised  as  not  only  an  unnecessary  but  an  unsatis 
factory  means  of  mastering  the  horse. 

THE  WEANING  AND  AFTER  TREATMENT  OF  THE  FOAL. 

THE  USUAL  AGE  FOR  WEANING  the  foal  is  about  the  end  of  the 
sixth  month,  that  time  being  selected  because  the  dam  is  generally 
about  "  half  gone"  with  her  next  foal,  and  cannot  bear  the  double 
drain  upon  her  system.  Nor  does  the  foal  benefit  much  by  the 
milk  after  this  age,  the  teeth  and  stomach  being  quite  strong 
enough  to  crop  and  digest  the  succulent  .grasses  that  are  to  be  had 
from  August  to  October,  those  being  the  months  during  which  the 
several  breeds  attain  the  middle  of  their  first  year.  If  the  autumn 
is  a  dry  one,  and  grass  is  scanty,  a  few  steamed  turnips  or  carrots 
may  be  mixed  with  bran,  and  given  to  the  foal  night  and  morning; 
but,  as  a  rule,  unless  it  is  to  be  highly  forced  into  its  growth  for 
the  purpose  of  early  racing,  it  will  require  only  the  grass  which  it 
can  pick  up  when  it  is  turned  out.  Three  or  four  foals  are  gene- 
rally placed  together  in  the  same  paddock  for  company,  and  in  this 
way  they  miss  their  dams  far  less  than  if  confined  by  themselves. 
Care  should  be  taken  that  nothing  is  left  within  their  reach  which 
can  do  injury,  every  fence  and  gate  being  carefully  examined  to 
see  that  no  projecting  bolt,  nail,  or  rail  is  likely  to  lay  hold  of  their 
bodies  or  limbs  as  they  gallop  about  in  their  play.  Foals  of  all 
ages  are  mischievous  animals,  and  the  better  fed  they  are  the 
more  inclined  they  seem  to  lay  hold  of  anything  which  attracts 
their  notice. 

BESIDES  THE  SHELTER  OF  A  HOVEL,  which  I  have  already  in- 
sisted on,  the  foal  requires  throughout  its  first  winter  good  feed- 
ing proportioned  to  its  breeding  and  the  purposes  for  which  it  is 
intended.  Racing  colts  are  allowed  three  or  four  feeds  of  bruised 
oats,  with  steamed  carrots  or  turnips,  and  sometimes  steamed  hay; 
but  the  general  plan  is  to  give  as  much  as  they  will  eat  of  the  best 


128  THE  HORSE. 

upland  hay,  in  its  natural  state,  after  they  have  finished  their  allow- 
ance of  corn.  Young  stock  intended  to  be  sold  as  hunters  and  first- 
class  carriage-horses  are  always  allowed  half  a  peck  of  bruised  oats, 
and  a  few  carrots  and  turnips  will  not  be  thrown  away  upon  them. 
Hacks,  and  inferior  young  stock  of  all  kinds,  get  through  the  winter 
upon  hay  and  barley-straw,  part  being  sometimes  cut  into  chaff, 
and  mixed  with  a  quartern  of  bran,  daily;  and  if  they  are  very  low 
in  flesh,  a  few  oats  being  added.  During  severe  frosts  the  straw- 
yard  is  the  best  place  for  the  foal,  on  account  of  the  hardness  of 
the  ground  in  the  fields,  and  here  he  will  easily  keep  himself  warm 
and  dry,  and  he  can  be  attended  to  according  to  his  wants.  Let 
the  breeder,  however,  constantly  bear  in  mind  that  a  check  given 
to  the  growth  in  the  first  winter  is  never  afterwards  entirely  reco- 
vered, and  that  if  the  colt  which  has  experienced  it  turns  out  well 
he  would  have  been  still  better  without  it. 


CHAPTER    IX. 
THE   BREAKING   OP   THE   COLT. 

Mr.  Rarey's  Principles  and  Practice — Ordinary  Method  of  Break- 
ing for  the  Saddle- — Superiority  of  the  Latter  when  properly 
carried  out — Breaking  to  Harness. 

THE  YEAR  1858  will  ever  be  memorable  in  the  annals  of  the 
English  stable  for  the  success  of  Mr.  Rarey  and  his  partner,  Mr. 
Goodenough,  in  extracting  25,000?.  from  the  pockets  of  English 
horsemen  by  the  promise  of  a  new  method  of  breaking  and  train- 
ing the  animal  which  they  all  loved  so  well,  but  so  often  found  not 
quite  obedient  to  their  wills.  The  plans  by  which  obedience  was 
to  be  insured  were  kept  a  profound  secret,  but  to  prove  Mr.  Rarey's 
power,  the  French  coaching  stallion,  Stafford,  the  English  thorough- 
bred, Cruiser,  and  a  gray  colt  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Anderson, 
of  Piccadilly,  all  notoriously  vicious,  were  privately  subdued,  and 
afterwards  exhibited  in  public.  Subscribers  were  invited  to  pay 
ten  guineas  each,  with  the  engagement  that  as  soon  as  five  hundred 
names  were  put  down,  the  American  would  teach  them  in  classes, 
each  subscriber  binding  himself,  under  a  heavy  penalty,  to  keep 
the  secret.  The  result  was  that  eleven  hundred  ladies  and  gentle- 
men paid  their  money,  and  kept  their  promise  so  well  that  until 
the  appearance  of  a  small  shilling  volume,  published  by  Messrs. 
Routledge  &  Co.,  which  detailed  the  whole  process,  in  the  very 
words  given  to  the  American  public  some  years  before  by  Mr. 


MR.  RAREY'S  MODE  OF  BREAKING.  129 

Rarey,  no  one  but  the  subscribers  had  any  certain  knowledge  of  the 
secret,  although  it  subsequently  appeared  that  it  had  oozed  out, 
and  had  been  propounded  in  several  directions  as  a  rival  scheme 
of  much  older  date.  However,  it  is  not  now  my  intention  to  at- 
tempt the  discovery  of  the  inventor  of  the  system  generally  known 
as  Rarey 's,  my  sole  object  being  to  ascertain  its  real  worth  in 
breaking  young  stock,  and  in  remedying  or  curing  the  vices  to 
which  older  horses  are  occasionally  subject.  It  will  be  seen  here- 
after that  though  I  think  the  plan  of  great  service  in  some  cases, 
I  doubt  its  utility  as  an  aid  to  the  breaker ;  but,  having  cost  the 
country  far  more  than  25,000/.,  and  having  received  the  approval 
of  hundreds  of  experienced  horsemen,  it  would  ill  become  me  to 
pass  the  subject  over  without  giving  reasons  for  the  conclusions  to 
which  I  have  arrived.  I  was  not  one  of  the  original  subscribers, 
but  I  have  seen  Mr.  Rarey  exhibit  his  extraordinary  powers  over 
the  horse  more  than  a  dozen  times,  so  that  I  am  in  a  position  to 
form  an  opinion  upon  the  whole  process  as  compared  with  our  ordi- 
nary English  methods,  with  which  I  have  also  long  been  practi- 
cally acquainted. 

IN  HIS  PUBLIC  DEMONSTRATIONS  Mr:  Rarey  always  commenced 
by  some  introductory  remarks  on  the  natural  history  of  the  horse, 
in  which  there  was  nothing  to  impress  the  auditor  with  any  great 
respect  for  his  powers.  At  the  end  of  this  act,  which  was  evi- 
dently intended  to  kill  time,  we  were  put  in  possession  of  the 
three  fundamental  principles  of  the  new  theory  of  the  proper 
management  of  the  horse,  namely  : — 

First,  "  That  he  is  so  constituted  by  nature  that  he  will  not  offer 
resistance  to  any  demand  made  of  him  which  he  fully  compre- 
hends, if  made  in  a  way  consistent  with  the  laws  of  his  nature." 

Secondly,  "  That  he  has  no  consciousness  of  his  strength  beyond 
his  experience,  and  can  be  handled  according  to  our  will  without 
force." 

Thirdly,  "  That  we  can,  in  compliance  with  the  laws  of  his  na- 
ture, by  which  he  examines  all  things  new  to  him,  take  any  object, 
however  frightful,  around,  over,  or  on  him,  that  does  not  inflict 
pain,  without  causing  him  to  fear." 

No  one  will,  I  believe,  dispute  the  first  two  of  these  principles, 
which  have  certainly  nothing  very  novel  in  them.  The  third, 
when  promulgated,  was  more  opposed  to  our  experience,  and  a  de- 
monstration of  its  truth  was  naturally  enough  required  before  it 
was  accepted.  To  comply  with  this  demand  horse  after  horse  was 
submitted  to  an  exhausting  and  painful  proof,  which  I  shall  pre- 
sently describe,  and  then  certainly  anything  which  did  not  inflict 
pain  was  borne  without  apparently  producing  fear.  This,  there- 
fore, was  proving  the  letter  of  the  third  principle ;  but  was  the 
spirit  of  it  established  ?  The  words  just  quoted,  if  they  mean 

I 


130  THE  HORSE. 

anything,  signify  that  is  only  necessary  to  allow  a  horse  to  exa- 
mine the  drum  and  he  will  show  no  fear  of  it.  But  is  this  the 
real  fact  ?  I  trow  not.  Before  a  high-couraged  horse  will  allow 
a  drum  to  be  beaten  on  his  back  he  must  either  submit  to  a  long 
course  of  training  under  the  old  system,  or  he  must  go  through 
the  royal  road  of  Mr.  Rarey,  of  which  nothing  whatever  is  said 
in  the  three  principles  alluded  to.  Take  an  ordinary  hunter  after 
he  is  exhausted  by  a  long  run,  and  he  will  bear  the  noise  of  a 
drum,  or  any  other  alarming  agent,  to  which  he  would,  when  fresh 
and  active,  show  the  greatest  objection.  Why,  then,  should  we 
be  astonished  that  a  shorter  method  of  exhausting  the  nervous 
energy  should  have  the  same  effect,  even  if  it  is  shown  in  a  still 
more  remarkable  manner,  as  we  shall  presently  see  it  is  ?  As  far, 
therefore,  as  Mr.  Rarey's  principles  are  concerned  I  have  little  to 
say  against  them,  except  that  if  the  third  is  meant  to  apply  to  the 
exhibition  of  the  drum  beaten  on  the  backs  of  his  several  subjects, 
it  is  not  very  ingenuous  in  the  language  which  is  used. 

BEFORE  MR.  RAREY  CAME  TO  ENGLAND  he  had,  as  I  have 
already  remarked,  published  in  America  a  little  pamphlet  which 
described  his  several  plans  for  driving  a  colt  from  pasture ; — driv- 
ing into  a  stable  and  haltering,  and  the  kind  of  halter  used,  &c. 
It  also  contained  an  account  of  an  experiment  with  a  robe,  snow- 
ing that  the  horse,  as  soon  as  he  discovers  by  his  senses  that  an 
object  has  no  power  or  will  to  hurt  him,  goes  up  to  it,  and  soon 
becomes  regardless  of  its  presence.  All  these  remarks,  however, 
have  no  interest  for  my  readers,  as  they  are  of  no  utility  whatever, 
and  the  sole  remaining  contents  of  the  pages  which  were  published 
by  Messrs.  Routledge,  and  received  with  so  much  interest  in  this 
country,  were  the  directions  for  throwing  the  horse,  and  afterwards 
handling,  or  "  gentling"  him,  as  the  American  operator  calls  the 
stroking  the  limbs,  which  he  always  puts  into  practice  after  the 
horse  is  down.  If  this  little  book  had  been  published  a  few  months 
earlier  it  would  have  entirely  destroyed  the  pecuniary  prospects 
of  the  partners,  but  coming  late  as  it  did,  it  prevented  the  pay- 
ment of  any  more  ten  guinea  subscriptions,  and  reduced  the  charge 
for  the  sight  of  the  process  to  guinea  and  half-guinea  tickets  for 
seats  at  the  Alhanibra.  I  shall,  therefore,  proceed  to  describe  the 
casting  process,  as  witnessed  by  myself,  and  then  examine  into  its 
nature  and  effect  upon  the  horse,  whether  in  breaking  or  taming 
him. 

THE  APPARATUS  which  is  required  is,  first  of  all,  an  ordinary 
snaffle  or  straight  bit  in  the  mouth,  without  which  nothing  could 
be  done  with  any  vicious  horse;  and  if  any  animal  is  to  be  "  Ra- 
reyfied,"  the  preliminary  operation  is  to  get  this  into  the  mouth. 
Stafford  was  brought  to  Mr.  Rarey  with  the  aid  of  guide-ropes, 
which  were  fastened  to  his  head  and  held  by  grooms  on  each  side 


THE  LEG  STRAP.  131 

In  him,  therefore,  this  first  essential  point  was  accomplished. 
Cruiser  also  had  a  halter,  strengthened  with  iron,  and  in  him  also 
there  was  a  means  of  laying  hold  of  the  head,  which  was  eagerly 
seized  by  the  operator.  The  plan  adopted  in  his  case  was  to  fix 
an  iron  staple  to  the  door-post,  and  then  running  through  this  a 
strong  leather  strap,  to  which  a  spring  hook  was  attached,  the  op- 
portunity was  seized  when  the  horse  came  open-mouthed  to  the 
door,  and  he  was  securely  laid  hold  of  and  drawn  up  to  the  staple, 
so  as  to  compel  him  to  allow  the  introduction  of  a  bit.  The  gray 
colt  at  Mr.  Anderson's  was  bitted ;  but  the  zebra  was  loose  in  his 
cage,  and  I  do  not  at  all  know  how  the  gag  in  which  he  was  ex- 
hibited was  forced  into  his  mouth,  but  I  believe  it  was  effected 
by  a  rope  thrown  round  his  neck  and  drawn  up  to  the  bars  of  his 
cage. 

THE  SECOND  PART  of  the  apparatus  is  the  leg-strap  for  the 
near  fore  leg,  being  very  similar  to  a  stirrup-leather,  which,  with 
the  addition  of  a  strong  loop,  can  be  made  to  answer  the  same 
purpose  very  well.  Before  applying  this  strap,  which  at  once 
makes  the  horse  harmless  for  offence,  he  must  be  rendered  ap- 
proachable, which,  in  ordinary  animals,  is  effected  merely  with 
the  aid  of  the  bridle.  In  Stafford,  however,  as  I  before  remarked, 
guide-ropes  were  used;  and  in  the  case  of  Cruiser,  he  was  enticed 
up  to  a  wagon  loaded  with  hay,  under  which  was  Mr.  Rarey,  and 
through  the  wheel  of  which  this  leg-strap  was  quietly  and  cau- 


RAREY'S  LEG  STRAP.    No.  1. 


fciously  buckled  on  his  leg.  As  soon  as  this  is  done  the  horse  is 
innocent  of  all  mischief  except  with  his  teeth,  for  he  cannot  kick 
on  three  legs,  and  even  his  mouth  may  be  kept  away  from  the 
operator  by  drawing  on  the  off  rein.  To  bring  him  speedily  to 
submit  to  the  power  of  the  operator,  the  other  leg  must  also  be 
confined,  which  is  effected  by  first  buckling  on  a  surcingle,  as  re- 
presented in  the  last  engraving,  and  then  catching  the  off  fetlock 
in  the  running  noose  of  leg-strap  No.  2,  which  is  made  in  the  an- 
nexed form.  Provided  with  this  second  strap  in  his  pocket,  and  hav- 
iug  already  applied  the  leg-strap  No.  1,  and  the  surcingle  as  shown 


132 


THE  HORSE. 


MR.  RAREY'S   STRAP.      No.   2. 


above,  the  subject  under  manipulation  is  either  induced  to  drop 
his  off  foot  into  the  noose,  or  it  is  slipped  round  his  ankle,  while 
the  off  rein  is  held  by  the  other  hand  to  keep  the  teeth  off  the 
operator.  As  soon  as  this  loop  is  firmly  drawn  round  the  leg,  the 


CRUISER  WITH   THE  LEG   STRAP    AND   SURCINGLE   ON. 

other  end  is  slipped  through  the  surcingle  under  the  belly,  and 


CRUISER  IN  THE  POWER  OF  HIS  MASTER.  133 

entire  control  of  the  horse  is  only  a  work  of  time.  The  arrange- 
ment of  these  straps  is  well  shown  in  the  engraving,  where  Crui- 
ser is  sketched  ready  for  the  final  struggle.  Up  to  this  time,  almost 


CRUISER   IN    THE    POWER   OF    HIS    MASTER. 


every  horse  will  be  tolerably  quiet  and  unresisting,  some  squeal- 
ing when  any  approach  is  made  to  their  elbows  to  tighten  the  sur- 
cingle, and  others  when  the  strap  No.  2  is  slipped  through  it.  Few 
however,  plunge  much  ;  and  if  they  are  made  to  hop  on  three  legs, 
they  are  able  to  go  on  for  so  long  a  time,  without  producing  the  neces- 
sary amount  of  fatigue,  that  the  operator  would  be  tired  before  his 
pupil.  It  is  at  this  stage — that  is  to  say,  with  the  use  of  the  leg- 
strap  No.  1 — that  the  predecessors  of  Mr.  Rarey  stopped,  and  they 
consequently  failed  to  gain  the  absolute  control  which  he  has  in- 
variably obtained  with  the  slight,  but  really  important,  additions 
which  he  has  made,  and  which  he  uses  in  the  ingenious  manner 
which  I  shall  now  describe.  It  may  be  observed  that,  with  a  vio- 
lent horse,  it  is  always  better  to  let  him  feel  his  want  of  power  for 
doing  mischief  with  the  near  fore  leg  strapped  up,  and  the  slight 
degree  of  fatigue  which  a  few  minutes'  hopping  will  produce,  be- 
12 


134  THE  HORSE. 

fore  the  second  strap  is  called  into  play,  especially  if  the  operator 
has  not  acquired  great  skill  in  the  use  of  the  apparatus.  When 
this  is  done,  and  the  second  strap  is  applied,  and  slipped  through 
the  surcingle,  as  shown  at  page  133,  taking  care  to  put  a  stout 
glove  on  the  right  hand,  the  left  rein  is  taken  in  the  left  hand,  and 
gently  jerked — using,  if  necessary,  the  usual  slight  stimulus  with 
the  tongue,  to  make  the  horse  move,  which  he  can  only  do  by 


THE   HORSE   BOUNDING   ON   HIS   HIND   LEGS. 


raising  the  off  fore  leg  off  the  ground  in  the  action  known  as  hop- 
ping. The  moment  this  begins,  the  right  hand  firmly  draws  the 
off  leg  up  to  the  surcingle,  and  keeps  it  there,  when  the  horse  must 
either  bound  into  the  air  on  his  hind  legs,  or  he  must  go  down  on 
the  ground,  supported  from  falling  on  his  side  in  the  attitude  of 
kneeling.  To  avoid  mischief,  therefore,  the  loose  box  or  yard 
where  the  operation  is  carried  on  should  be  thickly  bedded  with 
straw;  for  no  knee-caps  are  stout  enough  to  protect  the  joints  from 
injury  on  hard  ground;  nor,  if  they  escape  being  bruised,  will  the 
shock  to  the  body  on  falling  be  at  all  safe.  Even  straw  can  hardly 
be  relied  on,  if  the  floor  beneath  is  of  brick,  stone,  pebbles,  or 
hard  natural  soil ;  for  it  is  apt  to  give  way  during  the  struggles  of 


THE  HORSE  ON  HIS  KNEES. 


135 


the  horse,  and  allow  the  knees  to  reach  it  without  the  intended 
protection.  When,  therefore,  there  is  no  tanned  riding-school,  or 
other  similar  surface,  at  command,  a  good  solid  bed  of  manure 
(which  is  always  to  be  had  wherever  horses  are)  should  be  spread 
a  foot  thick  at  least,  and  over  this  clean  straw  may  be  laid.  To 
return  to  the  subject  of  the  operation,  whom  we  left  with  the  alter- 
native of  bounding  in  the  air  on  his  hind  legs,  or  falling  on  his 
knees  in  the  annexed  attitude,  the  chief  art  in  managing  this  part 
of  the  process  is  to  keep  firm  hold  of  the  strap  attached  to  the  off 
leg  close  to  the  surcingle ;  the  hand  being  protected  by  the  glove, 
can  easily  prevent  it  from  slipping  through  during  the  struggles 
of  the  horse,  and  at  the  same  time  serves  as  a  point  d'appui  for 
the  operator,  so  that  he  can  follow  the  movements  of  the  bounding 
animal  in  whatever  direction  he  may  progress.  The  operator  must 
on  no  account  attempt  to  stand  away  from  his  patient,  nor  must  he 
advance  before  the  girth-place ;  but  keeping  close  to  this,  he  is  in 


THE   HORSE  ON  HIS  KNEES,  ABOUT  TO  PALL  ON   HIS  SIDE. 

no  danger,  provided  he  has  the  sense  and  the  ability  to  give  way 
if  the  horse  should  throw  himself  down  towards  his  side.     The 


136  THE  HORSE. 

rein,  being  still  held  in  the  left  hand,  prevents  the  horse  falling 
away  from  the  operator,  and  is  also  used  by  him  as  a  means  of 
guiding  the  animal,  if  he  happens  to  progress  in  a  direction  which 
is  not  desired.  Nothing  else  is  to  be  attempted  till  the  horse  has 
quite  exhausted  all  his  energies,  which  those  possessed  of  high 
courage  will  soon  do ;  but  low-bred  animals  are  very  apt  to  turn 
sulky,  and,  refusing  to  plunge,  remain  on  their  knees,  in  spite  of 
every  kind  of  stimulus  which  can  be  given  them  short  of  severe 
punishment  with  the  whip,  which  is  to  be  avoided,  as  opposed 
to  the  principles  on  which  the  whole  process  is  founded.  By 
taking  time  with  these  brutes,  they  may  always  be  made  to  tire 
themselves,  for  the  kneeling  position  is  very  irksome  to  them, 
and  the  most  stubborn  will  give  a  plunge  now  and  then  to  re- 
lieve themselves,  though  they  will  not  follow  up  one  with  another 
as  speedily  as  a  thorough-bred.  Sooner  or  later  (the  time  vary- 
ing from  ten  minutes  to  two  or  three  hours),  the  tail  begins  to 
tremble,  the  flanks  heave,  and  a  profuse  perspiration  breaks  out, 
which  are  signs  that  the  horse  of  himself  desires  the  recumbent 
position,  and  will  lie  down  of  his  own  accord,  if  not  pulled  over 
by  the  right  hand  of  the  operator.  Mr.  Rarey,  in  his  public  exhi- 
bitions, has  never,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  waited  for  this  to  take 
place,  but,  perhaps  to  prevent  wearying  his  audience,  has  always 
pulled  his  patient  over  on  his  side  as  soon  as  he  could  accomplish 
the  feat.  In  many  cases,  this  impatience  has  led  to  a  partial 
failure ;  the  horse,  not  being  tired  out,  has  refused  to  submit,  and 
it  has  only  been  after  repeating  the  process  once  or  twice  that  com- 
plete control  has  been  obtained.  Those  gentlemen,  therefore,  who 
wish  to  try  the  experiment  for  themselves,  will  do  well  to  avoid 
any  risk  of  a  repetition,  which  they  may  not  be  able  to  manage 
with  the  dexterity  of  the  great  American  tamer.  Let  them  wait 
till  the  horse  is  thoroughly  tired,  and  then  only  interfere  to  such 
an  extent  as  to  keep  him  leaning  towards  their  side,  by  laying  hold 
of  the  right  rein  instead  of  the  left,  as  shown  in  the  engraving  at 
page  134;  and  drawing  the  head  away  from  themselves.  Mr. 
Rarey  generally  used  the  right  hand  for  this  purpose,  when  he 
wished  to  throw  his  patient  before  he  was  exhausted,  because  he 
could  in  that  way  employ*  more  force ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  his 
dexterity  was  such,  that,  if  a  bound  was  made,  he  was  always 
ready  to  hold  the  strap  attached  to  the  off  foot  before  the  horse 
could  get  fairly  on  his  hind  legs,  In  whichever  way  the  task  is 
accomplished,  the  effect  is  apparently  the  same — the  horse  lies  ex- 
tended on  his  side,  panting  and  sweating,  in  the  most  exhausted 
condition ;  but,  of  course,  showing  more  of  these  symptoms  of 
distress  the  longer  he  has  been  kept  resisting  the  restraints  put 
upon  him.  Now  comes  the  test  of  the  practical  ability  of  the  ope- 
rator ;  for  whereas  before  he  had  only  plain  directions  to  carry  out, 


HINTS  TO  OPERATORS.  137 

he  has  at  this  stage  to  judge  how  far  his  efforts  are  successful.  If 
he  takes  off  the  straps  too  soon,  the  patient  is  patient  no  longer, 
but  rises  rapidly,  and  perhaps  rewards  him  by  planting  a  severe 
blow  on  his  ribs.  It  is  here  that  Mr.  Rarey  displayed  his  great 
skill  to  perfection.  Apparently  by  intuition,  he  knew  when  his 
pupil  was  mastered;  but,  as  he  was  always  ready  to  explain,  it  was 
really  by  two  symptoms  that  he  judged  whether  he  had  gained  the 
mastery  or  not.  One  of  these  was  the  expression  of  the  eye,  which 
it  would  be  difficult  to  describe,  and  which  experience  alone  could 
adequately  convey  to  those  who  wish  to  understand  it ;  but  the 
other,  being  readily  tested,  is  within  the  reach  of  every  one.  This 
consists  in  the  entire  flaccidity  of  the  muscles  of  the  neck  and 
limbs;  and  until  this  is  ascertained  to  have  been  obtained,  the 
straps  should  not  be  entirely  removed.  Mr.  Rarey's  plan  of  pro- 
ceeding at  this  stage  was  the  following.  A  second  or  two  after  the 
horse  went  down,  he  let  him  raise  his  head,  and  then  dragged  it 
down  again  to  the  ground  by  the  mane.  On  repeating  this  once, 
twice,  or  thrice,  the  animal  would  give  in  as  far  as  that  part  was 
concerned ;  and  being  rewarded  with  a  pat  of  the  hand,  the  head 
remained  still  on  the  ground,  and  that  part  was  "  gentled."  Next 
removing  the  leg  straps,  the  fore  legs  were  separately  gently 
rubbed  downwards;  arid  on  being  lifted,  and  let  fall,  as  if  dead, 
they  also  were  passed  as  in  a  similar  satisfactory  state.  The  ope- 
rator then  going  round  by  the  back,  proceeded  to  gentle  the  hind 
limbs ;  and  though,  in  vicious  horses,  he  sometimes  had  narrow 
escapes  of  being  kicked,  yet  by  his  great  activity  and  clever  mode 
of  seizing  his  opportunity,  he  always  succeeded  in  keeping  out  of 
harm's  way.  Finally,  the  operator  passed  in  front  of  the  legs,  and 
performed  all  the  usual  "  clap-traps"  of  putting  his  head  between 
them,  knocking  the  hind  and  fore  shoes  together,  standing  on  the 
body,  &c.  While  in  this  state,  the  horse  lies  in  the  attitude  and 
with  the  expression  which  is  very  well  represented  in  the  accom- 
panying sketch,  and  there  he  will  gladly  lie  as  long  as  he  is  per- 
mitted to  do  so.  But  he  is  not  to  be  allowed  to  recruit  his  powers ; 
and  as  soon  as  he  had  gone  through  the  tricks  which  I  have 
described,  Mr.  Rarey  made  him  rise,  and  then  showed  that  the 
power  which  he  had  gained  was  not  lost  as  soon  as  the  animal  stood 
on  his  legs  again.  Calling  for  a  saddle,  it  was  in  every  case  shown 
to  the  horse,  and  put  first  on  his  head,  then  on  his  neck,  and  finally 
in  its  proper  place.  The  animal  then  always  submitted  to  be 
mounted,  and  even  allowed  the  dangerous  plan  recommended  and 
adopted  by  Mr.  Rarey,  of  standing  close  to  the  hind-quarter  while 
putting  the  foot  in  the  stirrup,  to  be  carried  out  without  kicking, 
which  before  the  "  Rareyfication"  most  of  the  vicious  brutes  ope- 
rated on  in  public  would  probably  have  done. 

BY  THIS  PLAN,  it  is  indisputable  that  any  active  man,  of  good 
12* 


138 


THE  HORSE. 


THE   HORSE   TAMED. 


temper,  but  possessed  of  firmness  and  courage,  and  accustomed  to 
deal  with  horses,  may  gain  such  a  control  over  even  the  most 
vicious,  that  he  can  do  what  he  likes  with  them  in-doors.  No  one 
who  has  examined  into  the  matter  can  doubt  Mr.  Rarey's  power, 
nor  can  he  refuse  him  the  merit  of  improving  upon  the  old  system 
of  controlling  the  horse,  by  the  addition  of  the  second  leg  strap, 
which  adds  so  much  to  the  power  of  the  human  arm,  that  the  most 
violent  and  muscular  horse  has  no  chance  whatever.  The  secret 
lies  in  two  essential  features ;  first,  that  the  horse  must  never  be 
coerced  or  resisted  unless  the  man  is  certain  of  success  in  control- 
ling him ;  and,  secondly,  that  when  the  former  is  thoroughly  con- 
vinced of  his  powerless  condition,  and  his  muscles  are  tired  out, 
the  latter  interferes  and  relieves  him  of  his  trammels,  "  gentles" 
him,  gives  him  kind  words,  and  at  length  encourages  him  to  rise. 
The  effect  is  marvellous — the  most  vicious  brute,  who  would  pre- 
viously tear  any  man  to  pieces,  after  he  is  thus  first  coerced,  and 
then  "  gentled"  and  relieved,  appears  to  grow  fond  of  his  master, 
and  follows  him  about  like  a  dog.  Clearly,  therefore,  Mr.  Rarey 
may  be  considered  as  having  been  eminently  successful  in  pro- 
pounding a  system  of  horse-taming  ;  but  it  by  no  means  follows 
that  his  process  is  equally,  or  even  at  all,  useful  in  horse-breaking. 


RAREY'S  METHOD.  139 

THERE  ARE  OTHER  QUESTIONS,  also,  which  remain  to  be  con- 
sidered in  relation  to  the  method  which  I  have  described.  First, 
is  it  permanent  quoad  the  individual  who  has  carried  it  out  ? 
Secondly,  does  the  vicious  horse  who  has  been  subdued  and 
"  gentled  "  by  one  man,  show  the  same  absence  of  vice  towards 
others  ?  And  thirdly,  is  he  injured  in  any  way  by  the  operation  ? 
On  the  first  of  these  points  there  appears  to  be  strong  evidence 
that,  if  the  operator  gives  occasionally  a  very  slight  reminder  of 
his  powers,  the  effect  of  one,  two,  or  three  lessons,  repeated  at 
short  intervals,  will  continue  for  at  least  a  year  or  two.  There  are 
numerous  instances  which  have  come  to  my  knowledge  of  horses 
resuming  their  vicious  habits  within  two  or  three  months  of  re- 
ceiving such  a  lesson  from  Mr.  Rarey,  that  they  would  allow  him 
to  do  what  he  liked  with  them  ;  but  in  the  case  of  the  savage 
Cruiser,  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  he  never  once  rebelled 
against  his  master  from  the  time  that  he  first  gave  in.  In  his  case, 
however,  the  operation  was  repeated  hundreds  of  times ;  and  there- 
fore it  does  not  go  so  far  as  I  have  stated  to  be  the  rule,  but  others 
might  be  adduced  which  keep  strictly  within  it ;  and  there  are 
also  private  individuals  who  have  practised  on  horses  which  have 
never  been  exhibited  in  public  who  have  kept  up  their  control 
unimpaired.  The  evidence  in  favor  of  the  lasting  nature  of  the  con- 
trolling power,  when  exercised  by  the  operator  himself,  is  too  strong 
to  be  gainsaid  :  and  the  first  question  may,  I  think,  be  safely 
answered  in  the  affirmative.  But  in  reference  to  the  second,  the 
evidence  is  all  the  other  way;  and  on  putting  Cruiser  into  the 
witness-box  he  would  tell  us  that  he  has  several  times  turned  against 
his  groom,  arid  put  his  life  in  danger.  Still,  it  must  be  remembered 
that,  prior  to  his  treatment  by  "  Rarey  fication,"  no  man  dared  enter 
his  box ;  and  on  comparing  his  two  states,  before  and  afterwards, 
it  may  be  truly  said,  that  though  not  absolutely  cured  of  his  vicious 
propensities,  he  is  comparatively  so.  Probably  the  same  conclusion 
may  be  arrived  at  in  those  cases  which  are  related  of  relapses  from 
virtue  to  vice;  but,  at  all  events,  such  instances  are  numerous 
enough,  and  attested  in  a  manner  so  respectable,  that  every  pos- 
sessor of  a  coerced  horse  should  be  always  on  his  guard.  The  last 
question  is  somewhat  difficult  to  answer,  because  the  injury,  if  real, 
is  not  apparent.  The  chief  means  of  testing  the  effect  is  on  the 
powers  of  race-horses,  several  of  which  have  felt  Mr.  Rarey's 
straps,  and  been  controlled  by  his  master  hand.  Now,  I  believe 
there  is  no  instance  of  a  horse  which  has  gone  through  the  opera- 
tion doing  any  good  subsequently  on  the  turf.  All  have  shown 
either  a  want  of  speed  or  heart ;  and  whatever  has  been  the  cause 
of  this,  they  have  run  behind  those  animals  whose  form  was  con- 
sidered by  good  judges  to  have  been  previously  inferior  to  them 
Thus,  Mr.  Merry's  Miss  Finch,  when  she  first  appeared,  beat  sev- 


140  THE  HORSE. 

eral  fields  of  first  class  two-year-olds ;  and  it  was  generally  believed, 
when  she  afterwards  was  beaten,  that  it  was  only  because  her 
temper  was  so  bad.  Yet  when  this  defect  was  so  far  remedied  by 
the  process  I  am  considering,  that  Mr.  M.  Dawson  could  ride  her 
constantly  as  a  hack  without  much  inconvenience,  she  never  re- 
covered her  racing  powers,  and  neither  in  private  (as  I  have  been 
informed),  nor  in  public,  certainly,  did  she  ever  exhibit  any 
approach  to  her  former  speed. 

ON  THE  WHOLE,  THEREFORE,  it  may  fairly  be  concluded  that 
Mr.  Rarey's  plans  are  well  adapted  for  the  control  of  vicious  horses, 
supposing  they  are  not  subsequently  wanted  for  the  turf,  in  which 
case  the  utility  of  the  process  is  very  questionable.  As,  however, 
all  our  horses  are  not  vicious,  and  as  by  the  casting  and  gentling 
nothing  more  is  effected  than  a  general  control,  it  remains  to  be 
considered  how  far  this  is  useful  in  breaking  colts  for  general  pur- 
poses. My  own  belief  is  that  it  acts  by  producing  in  the  horse  a 
compound  feeling  of  fear  and  gratitude,  the  former  being  the  re- 
sult of  his  fruitless  efforts  to  get  rid  of  the  controlling  hand  of 
man,  and  the  latter  being  established  from  finding  that  hand  re- 
lieve him  of  his  straps  and  then  caress  and  "  gentle"  him.  If, 
therefore,  any  horse,  even  without  vice,  is  required  to  exhibit  to 
his  master  or  mistress  any  relations  more  intimate  than  those  which 
are  usually  practised  in  this  country,  great  advantage  will  result 
from  the  establishment  of  this  fear  and  gratitude.  With  the  ex- 
ception', however,  of  cavalry  and  circus  horses,  we  generally  con- 
tent ourselves  with  that  amount  of  intercourse  which  is  acquired 
in  the  saddle,  and  we  do  not  want  our  hacks  to  exhibit  tricks,  nor 
do  we  require  them  to  follow  us  about  at  liberty  like  our  dogs.  It 
has  been  attempted  to  show  that  this  particular  plan  gets  rid  of  a 
great  deal  of  cruelty  to  the  horse,  but  this  is  altogether  unfounded, 
for  long  before  the  great  American  trainer  made  his  appearance, 
writers  on  the  horse  had  denounced  its  use,  and  though  many 
cruelly  severe  breakers  and  grooms  existed,  as  they  still  exist,  yet 
they  were  exceptions  to  the  general  rule.  Cavalry  horses,  especially 
when  on  service,  are  required  to  submit  to  the  control  of  the  men 
in  many  ways  which  are  never  in  demand  for  hacking  or  hunting, 
and  the  mere  power  of  compelling  the  horse  to  lie  down  and  re- 
main on  the  ground  is  worth  a  great  deal  of  trouble  to  acquire. 
As  far  as  they  are  concerned,  I  think  the  use  of  Mr.  Rarey's 
straps  most  valuable ;  and  it  must  be  remembered  that  this  was  all 
that  the  Canadian  military  authorities  certified  in  their  recom- 
mendations which  Mr.  Rarey  brought  with  him  across  the  Atlantic. 
The  clever  management  of  his  partner,  Mr.  Groodenough,  and  the 
profound  secrecy  maintained  for  so  long,  carried  the  public  away 
far  beyond  this,  and,  as  in  the  fable  of  the  fox  who  had  lost  his 
tail,  all  those  who  had  spent  their  ten  guineas  were  anxious  to 


ORDINARY  ENGLISH  METHOD.  141 

place  their  friends  in  the  same  predicament.  This  is  the  only  way 
in  which  I  can  account  for  the  extraordinary  conclusions"  to  which 
so  many  practised  horsemen  arrived  in  1858.  Since  that  time,  it 
is  true,  the  fashion  has  subsided,  and  a  more  temperate  view  has 
been  taken,  the  general  opinion  of  good  judges  being,  I  believe, 
pretty  much  in  accordance  with  those  which  I  have  always  held 
publicly  and  privately,  and  which  I  have  here  endeavored  to  con- 
vey to  my  readers. 

BEFORE  PROCEEDING  TO  INQUIRE  into  the  merits  of  Mr.  Ra- 
rey's  plan  as  compared  with  our  own  mode  of  breaking,  it  will  be 
well  to  describe  what  the  latter  is,  and  then  ascertain  which  is  the 
best  mode  of  carrying  out  our  object.  No  horseman  in  this  country 
would  dream  of  using  the  animal  he  intends  to  ride  or  drive  with- 
out the  control  of  a  bit,  and  although  he  may  aid  this  powerful 
instrument  with  his  voice,  his  leg,  his  whip,  or  his  spur,  yet  it 
always  has  been,  and  still  is,  the  chief  agent  in  the  management  of 
the  horse.  Again,  no  colt  is  to  be  considered  as  broken  until  his 
rider  or  driver  has  altered  his  paces,  and  given  him  such  an  action 
in  the  walk,  trot,  canter,  and  gallop,  or  in  some  two  or  three  of 
these  paces,  that  he  has  become  pleasant  and  safe.  Now  the  plans 
which  I  have  just  described  do  not  effect  either  of  these  objects, 
indeed  their  tendency  is  rather  to  interfere  with  the  making  of  a 
good  mouth,  for  the  bit  will  sometimes  cut  the  angles  of  the  lips, 
and  in  this  way  tend  to  make  it  afterwards  dull.  I  do  not  mean  to 
assert  that  this  is  necessarily  carried  far  enough  by  Mr.  Karey  to 
make  his  plan  objectionable  on  that  account,  but  merely  that  if 
anything  is  done»  towards  breaking  a  colt,  it  is  injurious  rather  than 
beneficial,  with*  the  single  exception  of  the  establishment  of  a 
mental  control,  which,  as  I  shall  presently  show,  is  not  wanted  in 
more  than  one  or  two  per  thousand  of  our  horses. 

THE  ORDINARY  ENGLISH  METHOD  OF  BREAKING  FOR  THE 

SADDLE. 

IN  THIS  COUNTRY  the  breaker  of  the  hack  is  not  only  supposed 
to  produce  in  his  pupil  what  is  called  a  good  "  mouth,"  but  also  to 
teach  him  the  use-  of  his  legs,  so  as  to  give  a  pleasant  feel  to  his 
rider  in  the  walk,  trot,  and  gallop,  and  in  the  canter,  where  spe- 
cially required.  The  racehorse  is  only  "  mouthed"  and  "  backed, " 
his  subsequent  education  being  confided  to  the  trainer;  and  the 
hunter,  in  addition  to  these  developments,  is  taught  to  get  over 
the  various  fences  which  he  is  likely  to  meet  with,  in  a  clever 
manner.  Each  class  must,  therefore,  go  through  the  same  pre- 
liminary process,  which  consists  in  producing  a  good  mouth,  and 
in  making  the  colt  bear  his  rider  patiently  in  the  saddle.  To  effect 
these  objects  when  the  colt  is  running  at  large  he  must  be  caught 
and  haltered,  and  I  shall  now  proceed  to  show  how  the  matter  is 


142 


THE  HORSE. 


effected  ab  initio.     In  doing  this  it  will  be  necessary  to  examine 
into  the  best  apparatus  for  carrying  it  out. 

THE  HALTER,  which  in  this  country  is  generally  first  used,  is 
the  ordinary  one,  made  of  hemp-webbing,  for  the  head,  with  a  run- 
ning eye  in  the  back  of  the  nose-piece,  in  which  runs  a  stout  rope 
attached  to  the  head.  Thorough-bred  colts  are  always  made  to 
carry  a  light  leather  head-stall  from  the  end  of  their  first  year, 
and  so,  indeed,  are  all  well-bred  yearlings  of  any  value.  The  large 
mass  of  colts  run  unhaltered  till  they  are  to  be  broken,  which  is 
generally  commenced  when  they  are  three-year-olds.  Ponies  and 
small  hacks  are  then  often  taken  into  use,  the  latter  being  quietly 
ridden  by  the  breeder  for  his  own  purposes  till  they  are  four  or 
five  years  old,  when  they  are  sold.  Mr.  Rarey  recommends  for  all 


MR.  RAREY'S   HALTER  OR  BRIDLE  FOR  COLTS. 


RAREY'S  METHOD. 


143 


purposes  a  leathern  halter,  made  like  an  ordinary  head-stall,  but 
rather  lighter.  This  is  at  once  put  on  the  colt,  and  by  buckling 
a  leading-strap  to  the  nose-band,  either  before  or  behind,  anything 
may  be  done  which  is  required,  short  of  mounting.  Two  small 
billets  and  buckles  attach  any  bit  which  may  be  selected  to  the 
rings  which  connect  the  cheek  pieces  to  the  nose-band,  and  thus 
the  halter  is  converted  into  a  very  useful  breaking  bridle.  It 
wants,  however,  the  stiff  padded  nose-band  of  the  cavesson,  but 
this  is  only  required  with  very  violent  and  determined  colts.  The 
above  engraving  represents  Mr.  Rarey's  halter-bridle,  with  his 
ordinary  breaking  bit. 

THE  BIT  which  is  usually  employed  in  England  for  colts  is  a 
heavy  smooth  snaffle,  with  a  tongue-piece  and  keys  depending  from 
its  central  link.  For  racing  colts  a  very  excellent  bit  has  lately 
been  extensively  introduced,  consisting  in  a  mere  smooth  ring  of 
iron,  with  a  loop  on  the  upper  part  for  attachment  to  the  head- 
stall, in  the  same  way  as  in  Mr.  Rarey's  bridle.  In  front  of  this 
loop  the  ring  is  introduced  into  the  mouth,  and  the  back  of  the 
circle  takes  the  leading  rein,  which  is  thus  allowed  to  slip  on  either 
side,  and  keep  a  secure  hold  of  the  jaw,  however  much  the  colt 
may  pull  at  it.  I  have  a  dislike  to  the  snaffle  for  colts,  because  I 
have  found  it  constantly  pressing  on  one  corner  of  the  mouth  more 
than  the  other,  the  animal  putting  his  head  on  one  side,  and  lean- 
ing upon  that  half  of  the  mouthpiece,  so  as  to  relieve  each  side  of 
the  jaw  alternately,  instead  of  allowing  the  two  divisions  of  the 
snaffle  to  bear  equally  on  the  angles  of  the  mouth.  I  much  prefer 
a  bit  made  with  an  unjointed  mouthpiece,  curved  in  a  segment  of  a 
circle,  with  the  usual  tongue-piece  and  keys  attached  to  the  middle  by 
a  roller.  This  curved  mouthpiece  should  have  smooth  rings  turned 
upon  it,  which  will  prevent  the  horse  from  rubbing  his  lips  from 
side  to  side,  and  tend  to  form  a  very  pleasant  and  delicate  mouth. 
I  have  known  it  used  with  great  success  in  breaking  hundreds  of 
colts,  and  I  have  myself  found  its  advantages  in  a  great  number 
of  horses,  young  as  well  as  old.  These,  together  with  a  martin- 
gale, buckling  on  to  the  bit,  are  all  that  are  required  for  making 
the  mouth. 

IN  ADDITION  to  the  apparatus  for  this  part  of  the  colt's  educa- 
tion, arrangements  must  also  be  made  for  accustoming  him  to  bear 
the  weight  of  the  rider,  and  for  attaching  the  bit  to  some  part  of 
the  body.  In  commencing  the  breaking  it  is  customary  to  put  on 
merely  a  roller  with  a  leathern  surcingle  over  it,  kept  in  its  place 
by  a  crupper,  which,  for  facility  of  putting  on,  should  have  a  buckle 
on  one  side.  In  front  of  the  surcingle,  on  each  side,  two  buckles  are 
stitched,  serving  to  attach  the  reins  either  high  up,  or  even  crossed 
over  the  withers,  or  low  down,  or  sometimes  both  high  and  low. 
Until  within  the  last  thirty  or  forty  years,  what  is  called  a  dumb 


144  THE  HORSE. 

jockey  was  always  attached  to  the  roller,  but  this  is  generally  now 
dispensed  with,  though  with  the  elastic  reins  introduced  by  Mr. 
Blackwell  I  think  it  may  be  made  very  useful.  Lastly,  to  the 
crupper  long  hanging  straps  are  attached,  so  as  to  accustom  the 
young  animal  to  the  pressure  of  the  coat  or  habit.  Provided  with 
this  apparatus,  and  with  a  long  leading  rein  of  webbing,  the  breaker 
is  prepared  to  subdue  the  wildest  colt. 

THE  FIRST  THING  TO  BE  DONE  is  to  get  a  halter  or  headstall 
on,  which  is  only  to  be  effected  either  in  a  stable  or  similar  enclosed 
place,  or  among  a  herd  of  other  horses,  when  the  colt  is  so  closely 
packed  in  that  he  cannot  move.  Every  one  must  have  seen  the 
Welsh  and  Irish  drovers  rush  into  the  middle  of  a  herd,  and  seiz- 
ing an  unbroken  colt  round  the  neck,  hold  him  till  a  halter  is 
slipped  over  his  head.  The  same  plan  greatly  facilitates  the  hal- 
tering of  any  colt;  but  a  couple  of  steady  horses  are  quite  enough 
to  keep  a  colt  steady  in  any  building  or  small  yard.  The  breaker 
arranges  so  as  to  have  one  on  each  side,  and  then  going  up  between 
them,  he  has  the  colt  held  for  him  while  he  very  slowly  and  quietly 
insinuates  his  hand,  with  the  head  of  the  halter  in  it,  over  the 
neck,  just  behind  the  ears.  With  a  little  dexterity,  this  is  soon 
done,  and  then  the  nose-band  being  slipped  into  its  place,  a  good 
hold  can  be  secured.  Every  horseman  must,  however,  agree  with 
Mr.  Rarey,  that  the  rope  halter  with  a  running  noose  is  most  im- 
proper, and  that  a  leathern  headstall  should  always  be  chosen.  It 
is  quite  true,  that  a  single  turn  of  the  cord  of  the  halter  into  a 
half-hitch  prevents  all  mischief,  and  this  is  done  by  good  breakers; 
but  the  headstall  or  cavesson  should  be  put  on  as  soon  as  possible, 
and  the  former  may  be  worn  constantly  till  the  breaking  is  com- 
plete. With  the  leading-rein  attached  to  the  nose-band,  the  breaker 
can  now  restrain  the  colt  from  getting  away ;  and,  by  kind  words 
and  gentle  treatment,  the  young  animal  soon  becomes  accustomed 
to  his  presence,  and  will  allow  him  to  approach  and  handle  him  all 
over.  When  this  is  borne  easily,  he  may  be  led  out  about  the 
fields,  and  green  lanes  if  there  are  any;  but  while  he  continues  to 
resent  the  approach  of  moving  objects  by  violent  bounds,  nothing 
should  be  put  in  his  mouth  out-of-doors.  If  he  is  very  wild  and 
\ngovernable,  he  may  be  made  to  trot  gently  round  and  round  in 
a  circle  on  some  soft  ground,  the  breaker  at  first  following  him  up, 
but  soon  being  enabled  to  "longe"  him  while  standing  in  the  cen- 
tre. After  a  day  or  two,  the  breaking-bit  already  described  may 
be  slipped  into  his  mouth,  and  attached  in  the  way  shown  in  the 
engraving  at  page  142.  It  should,  however,  only  be  allowed  to 
hang  there  without  reins  at  first,  and  it  may  either  be  kept  on 
while  the  colt  is  being  led  about,  or  for  an  hour  or  two  daily  while 
in  the  stable.  In  this  way  the  jaw  and  lips  become  accustomed  to 
the  pressure  of  the  bit,  and  lose  the  painful  sensation  which  it  tit 


BREAKING— BAUCHER'S  METHOD.  145 

first  occasions.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  reins  are  at  once  buckled 
on,  and  are  then  strained  tightly  back  to  the  surcingle,  or  dumb- 
jockey,  the  delicate  mucous  membrane  becomes  sore,  and  even 
ulcerated,  and  the  foundation  is  laid  for  that  dull,  unyielding 
mouth  which  is  so  objectionable  on  every  account. 

IT  SHOULD  NEVER  BE  FORGOTTEN,  that  the  mouth  is  the  foun- 
dation upon  which  all  the  subsequent  proceedings  are  to  be  con- 
ducted. A  horse  may  naturally  have  fine  action,  and  he  may  be 
so  framed  that,  if  he  were  properly  bitted,  he  would  be  a  delight- 
ful hack  or  hunter ;  but  if  his  mouth  is  spoiled  in  breaking,  his 
fine  action  is  thrown  away,  because  it  cannot  be  regulated  and 
controlled  by  such  a  trifling  exercise  of  strength  in  the  hand  and 
arm  as  is  consistent  with  riding  for  pleasure.  Many  a  pulling 
brute  has  won  a  steeplechase,  or  shown  to  advantage  in  the  hunt- 
ing-field, with  a  professional  "  up,"  which  would  not  be  ridden  for 
ten  minutes  by  an  amateur  who  could  afford  to  make  his  own  selec- 
tion. Hence,  the  first  thing  which  the  breaker  has  to  set  about 
is  the  formation  of  a  good  mouth ;  and  this  is  exactly  what  Mr. 
Rarey's  plans  fail  to  provide,  and,  indeed,  it  is  what  they  interfere 
with  in  a  great  degree,  as  I  have  observed  at  page  143.  Well, 
then,  let  us  examine  into  the  received  mode  of  obtaining  a  good 
mouth  in  England.  M.  Baucher  has  carried  the  European  prin- 
ciples of  producing  it  to  a  very  high  degree,  and  it  will  be  neces- 
sary to  allude  to  his  plans  also;  but,  on  the  whole,  I  cannot  but 
think  them  superfluous  for  ordinary  purposes,  and  should  be  per- 
fectly content  with  a  horse  broken  in  the  best  English  methods, 
which  now  combine  the  "supplings"  of  the  great  French  breaker 
with  the  old  dead  pressure  adopted  in  the  methods  of  our  ances- 
tors. The  difference  between  the  two  is  mainly  this,  that  we  in 
England  content  ourselves  with  confining  the  head  by  the  reins  in 
a  position  which,  while  it  does  not  compel  the  horse  to  lean  upon 
his  bit,  yet  makes  him  try  to  avoid  its  pressure  by  bending  his 
neck,  and  thus  rendering  its  muscles  supple.  M.  Baucher,  on  the 
contrary,  prefers  that  the  whole  of  this  suppling  shall  be  per- 
formed by  the  pressure  of  the  breaker's  hand ;  and,  doubtless,  his 
is  the  best  plan,  if  the  man  employed  is  competent  to  the  task, 
and  the  time  thus  devoted  can  be  afforded.  It  takes  a  fortnight 
or  three  weeks  to  "make"  a  horse's  mouth,  so  far  as  to  fit  him  to 
bear  the  hands  of  his  rider,  in  either  way;  but  as  less  than  two 
hours  a  day  during  that  time  will  not  suffice,  and  as  in  the  one 
case  the  horse  supples  himself,  while  in  the  other  a  man  must 
effect  the  change,  M.  Baucher's  method  costs  twenty-eight  hours 
of  skilled  labor, -in  addition  to  subsequent  breaking,  and  it  is  there- 
fore very  expensive.  The  course  of  proceedings  which  good  Eng- 
lish breakers  now  adopt  is  as  follows.  The  bit  having  been  allowed 
for  some  days  to  remain  in  the  mouth  without  reins,  as  already  do- 
13  K 


146  THE  HORSE. 

scribed,  the  breaker  next  proceeds  to  attach  a  rein  to  it  in  the 
ordinary  way,  and  to  buckle  this  loosely  to  the  surcingle  or  dumb- 
jockey,  whichever  he  may  employ.  Mr.  Blackwell's  india-rubber 
reins  are  thought  very  highly  of  by  some  for  this  purpose ;  but,  as 
far  as  I  have  tried  them,  I  prefer  plain  leather,  because  I  object  to 
constant  pressure,  however  slight,  upon  the  mouth.  A  drop  of 
water  falling  constantly  and  regularly  upon  a  stone  will  wear  it 
away  sooner  than  the  same  quantity  dashed  at  once  upon  it;  and,  in 
the  same  manner,  permanent  gentle  pressure  upon  the  mouth  is  more 
irksome  than  a  more  severe  occasional  pull.  The  great  art  consists 
in  shortening  the  reins  so  gradually,  that  the  pressure  can  always  be 
avoided  by  bending  the  neck,  and  this  the  horse  soon  learns  to  do; 
and  thus,  at  one  and  the  same  time,  he  gains  control  over  his  mus- 
cles, and  inures  his  jaws  and  lips  to  the  bit.  It  is  generally  neces- 
sary, while  the  "bitting"  is  going  on,  whether  in  the  stable  or  at 
exercise,  to  fix  the  head  down  by  a  martingale,  buckled  to  each  side 
of  the  bit;  for  without  this  the  horse,  in  his  struggles  to  get  rid  of  his 
restraints,  will  often  toss  his  head  so  high  as  to  do  himself  a  serious 
injury.  If  the  mouthing  is  conducted  in  the  stable,  the  horse  is  either 
put  into  a  loose-box  (which  is  the  best  plan),  or  he  is  turned  round 
in  his  stall,  and  kept  in  that  position  by  buckling  the  ordinary  pillar 
reins  to  each  side  of  the  bit.  At  first,  the  reins  should  hardly 
confine  the  head  at  all  beyond  the  position  in  which  it  is  naturally 
carried  when  the  horse  is  excited ;  but  each  day  a  hole  or  two  may 
be  taken  up,  until  such  pressure  is  made,  that  the  horse  has  a  ten- 
dency to  relieve  his  neck  and  shoulders  by  advancing  his  fore  legs 
and  rounding  his  neck.  The  best  plan  is  to  put  on  the  breaking 
tackle  for  an  hour  in  the  stable,  then  loose  the  reins  for  a  quarter 
of  an  hour ;  after  which  the  colt  may  be  led  out  for  his  regular 
daily  exercise,  and  may  be  "  longed"  with  the  reins  buckled  more 
or  less  tightly,  according  to  the  experience  of  the  breaker  and  the 
condition  of  the  mouth.  In  most  cases,  the  process  is  hurried  far 
too  much ;  the  breaker  contracts  to  do  all  that  is  required  for  a 
given  sum,  varying  from  one  guinea  to  three,  and  it  is  his  object 
to  spend  as  little  time  over  each  of  his  pupils  as  will  serve  to  make 
them  barely  rideable.  This  is  objectionable  in  principle,  though 
it  is  very  difficult  to  know  how  to  improve  upon  it  without  running 
the  risk  of  extortion  ;  but  when  a  colt  is  to  be  broken  for  the  use  of 
the  owner,  or  any  of  his  family,  he  will  do  well  to  see  that  plenty 
of  time  is  devoted  to  the  formation  of  the  mouth,  and  this  I  have 
already  said  should  extend  to  a  fortnight.  If  the  breeder  has  a 
lot  of  colts  which  are  to  be  placed  in  the  breaker's  hands,  the  latter 
can,  with  the  assistance  of  a  few  lads,  go  on  with  a  dozen  at  the 
same  time,  and  in  that  way  too  great  an  outlay  of  money  is  avoided; 
but  if  there  is  only  one  in  his  hands,  he  can  hardly  do  justice  to 
his  employer  at  the  ordinary  rate.  Hitherto  I  have  only  alluded 


BREAKING.  147 

to  longeing,  without  describing  it  or  alluding  to  the  object  with 
which  it  is  adopted.  I  must  now,  however,  say  something  more 
about  it,  because  in  this  stage  it  becomes  an  important  element  of 
success.  It  may  be  remembered,  that  I  have  laid  down  a  fortnight 
as  the  least  interval  which  should  elapse  from  the  commencement 
of  breaking  before  the  colt  is  fit  to  be  backed  with  safety  to  the 
breaker  or  his  assistant.  Not  that  he  may  not  be  ridden  in  much 
less  time  than  this,  but  that  if  he  is,  it  will  be  at  the  expense  of 
his  mouth.  Longeing  is  a  means  of  at  once  giving  exercise  in  a 
short  space  of  time,  and  also  of  accustoming  the  colt  to  use  his 
limbs  while  some  degree  of  pressure  is  made  on  the  mouth  by  the 
bit,  without  giving  himself  pain  from  moving  the  head.  Now, 
the  act  of  keeping  this  part  still  necessitates  an  even  and  smooth 
style  of  going,  and  so  all  things  work  together  to  produce  the 
pleasant  feel  which  is  given  to  the  rider  by  a  perfect  hack.  A 
good  mouth  may  be  acquired  in  the  stable,  but  it  is  soon  spoiled 
out-of-doors,  either  by  longeing  in  a  hurried  manner,  or  by  the  bad 
hands  of  the  rider,  whether  breaker  or  subsequent  user.  To  keep 
it,  great  care  is  required  at  every  stage  of  breaking;  and  none  but 
a  man  possessed  of  head,  temper,  seat,  and  hands  can  finish  a  colt 
as  he  should  be  turned  out.  Longeing,  therefore,  I  hold  to  be  a 
most  important  part  6f  the  art  of  breaking ;  and  its  absence  from 
Mr.  Rarey's  principles  and  practice  shows  that  he  has  taken  the 
dull  pulling  mouth  of  the  American  horse  as  his  model,  and  not 
the  beautifully  yielding,  yet  steady  one  of  the  English  hack.  In 
the  United  States,  where  Mr.  Rarey  acquired  his  extraordinary 
powers,  riding  is  little  practised ;  and  those  horses  which  are  used 
have  leathern  mouths,  and  are  ridden  with  three  legs,  rather  than 
with  a  pair  of  legs  and  a  pair  of  hands,  as  with  us.  We  need  not, 
therefore,  be  surprised  that  he  has  altogether  overlooked  the  im- 
portance of  acquiring  a  fine  mouth,  and  has  regarded  the  mere 
control  over  the  horse,  in  some  way  or  other,  no  matter  how,  as 
the  sole  object  to  be  desired  in  breaking.  At  length,  when  the 
breaker  is  satisfied  that  the  colt  has  gained  the  power  over  his 
limbs  at  all  paces,  which  he  will  have  gradually  given  him  in  his 
daily  longes,  by  increasing  the  tightness  of  the  reins  and  accele- 
rating the  pace,  (taking  care  to  change  the  directions  of  the  cir- 
cles,) he  thinks  it  time  to  give  his  pupil  the  finishing  lessons, 
which  can  only  be  done  in  the  saddle.  Before  mounting,  however, 
he  is  enabled  to  teach  the  colt  the  meaning  of  each  pressure  of  the 
rein,  which  at  first  is  utterly  unintelligible  By  taking  both  in 
each  hand,  and  pressing  backwards,  he  causes  him  to  back ;  and 
by  drawing  them  forward,  to  proceed  in  that  direction.  The  right 
hand  moved  to  the  right,  makes  the  colt  move  his  head,  and  after- 
wards his  body,  towards  that  side,  and  vice  versd  with  the  left 
hand.  In  this  way,  all  is  prepared  for  the  mounting,  which  should 


148  THE  HORSE. 

be  first  attempted  when  the  colt  is  somewhat  tired  after  a  long  and 
steady  longe.  The  breaker  should,  during  the  last  week's  daily 
exercise,  put  on  a  saddle  instead  of  a  roller  and  surcingle,  keeping 
it  in  its  place  by  loose  girths  and  a  crupper.  Every  day  he  should 
bear  occasionally  upon  the  stirrups,  smacking  them  against  the 
saddle,  and  thus  accustoming  the  colt  to  noises,  and  also  to  pres- 
sure on  his  back.  When  all  is  ready,  he  has  only  to  put  his  foot 
in  the  stirrup,  standing  with  his  back  to  the  shoulder,  and  then, 
after  partially  rising  two  or  three  times,  and  coming  down  again, 
he  finally  plants  himself  firmly  in  the  saddle.  Most  careful  break- 
ers have  a  roll  of  cloth  buckled  firmly  in  front  of  their  saddles ; 
and  with  this  precaution,  even  if  the  colt  bucks  or  kicks,  it  is 
almost  impossible  for  him  to  dislodge  them.  When  thus  mounted, 
the  breaker  should  be  in  no  hurry,  but  let  the  colt  get  accustomed 
to  the  intruder.  Let  him  wait  till  the  pupil  has  somewhat  reco- 
vered from  the  shock,  and  then  only  let  him  urge  him  forward  at 
as  slow  a  pace  as  he  likes.  If  all  has  been  conducted  well  through- 
out the  preliminary  stages,  and  the  colt  is  good-tempered,  he  will 
walk  away  quietly  enough,  and  generally  no  trouble  will  be  given 
for  a  day  or  two ;  when,  probably,  there  will  be  some  slight  fight, 
which  may  be  either  in  causing  the  pupil  to  go  where  he  does  not 
want  to  go,  or  in  making  him  face  some  ol»ject  which  frightens 
him.  At  first,  neither  whip  nor  spur  should  be  used,  for  the  ob- 
_ject  of  neither  is  understood;  and  if  the  colt  will  not  readily 
move  forward,  he  should  be  led  or  driven  by  an  assistant,  and  not 
whipped  or  spurred  by  his  rider.  In  process  of  time,  however,  he 
is  made  gradually  to  understand  these  signs  by  the  tact  of  the 
breaker;  and  then  if  he  offends,  he  must  be  punished  accordingly, 
but  it  must  always  be  remembered  that  the  fault  must  be  met  im- 
mediately, or  not  at  all. 

THE  AMUSING  AND  EXPERIENCED  author  of  "  The  Horse  and 
his  Rider"  has  drawn  attention  to  the  misconception  of  the  differ- 
ences in  character  between  a  wild  horse  and  a  tame  one,  which  is 
entertained  in  this  country.  He  says  :  "  It  is  generally  conceived 
that  in  the  difficulty  of  sticking  on  to  the  back  of  a  horse  there 
exist  three  degrees  of  comparison,  namely : 

"  1.  That  it  is  rather  difficult  to  ride  a  horse  that  has  been 
broken  in. 

"2.  That  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  ride  a  tame  one  that  has 
not  been  broken  in. 

"  3.  That  it  must  be  almost  impossible  to  mount  and  ride  a  wild 
horse  just  caught,  that  has  never  been  broken  in. 

"  We  will,  however,  humbly  venture  to  assert  that,  in  certain 
instances,  the  three  steps  of  this  little  ladder  might  be  reversed. 

"  1.  In  a  state  of  nature  the  horse  is  such  a  zealous  advocate  of 
our  popular  principle  of  'self-government/  he  is  so  desirous  to 


BREAKING.  149 

maintain  his  '  independence/  that  although  he  will  allow  almost 
any  quadruped,  even  wolves  and  lions,  to  approach  within  a  certain 
distance,  yet  the  moment  he  sees  a  man,  though  on  horseback,  he 
instinctively  turns  his  tail  towards  him,  and,  when  followed,  gal- 
lops away. 

"  If,  consequently,  by  the  triumph  of  reason  over  instinct,  he  be 
caught,  saddled,  and  if  all  of  a  sudden,  to  his  vast  astonishment, 
he  finds  sitting  astride  his  back,  with  a  cigar  in  his  mouth,  the  very 
human  being  he  has  always  been  avoiding,  his  first  and  almost  only 
feeling  is  that  of  /ear,  and,  accordingly,  if  he  be  retained  by  the 
bridle,  instantaneously,  by  a  series  of  jumps  on  all  four  legs,  he 
makes  impromptu  his  first  hurried,  untaught,  unpractised  effort  to 
dislocate  a  rider.  But  if,  instead  of  being  as  it  were  invited  to 
perform  these  unsophisticated  antics,  he  be  allowed,  or  rather  by 
whip  and  severe  spurs,  be  propelled  to  do  what  he  most  ardently 
desires,  namely,  run  away,  his  power  of  resistance  is  over,  and  his 
subjection  inevitable.  For  at  the  top  of  his  speed,  just  as  when 
swimming,  a  horse  can  neither  rear,  kick,  nor  plunge,  and  accord- 
ingly at  his  best  pace  he  proceeds  on  his  sure  road  to  ruin,  until 
not  only  all  his  wind  is  pumped  out  of  him,  but  after  that,  until 
twisted  hide-thong  and  sharp  iron  have  converted  his  terror  of 
man  into  an  ardent  desire  to  be  obedient  to  his  will.  In  fact,  like 
a  small  nation  that  has  unsuccessfully  been  contending  against  a 
great  one,  he  wishes  to  put  an  end  to  the  horrors  of  war,  and  to 
sue  for  the  blessings  of  peace. 

"  2.  If  a  domestic  horse  that  has  never  been  broken  in  be  sud- 
denly saddled  and  mounted,  the  rider  has  greater  difficulties  to 
encounter  than  those  just  described;  for  the  animal  is  not  only 
gifted  by  nature  with  all  the  propensities  of  the  wild  horse  to  re- 
ject man,  but,  from  being  better  fed,  he  has  greater  strength  to 
indulge  in  them  ;  besides  which  he  enjoys  the  immense  advantage 
of  being  in  a  civilized,  or,  in  plainer  terms,  an  enclosed  country. 
Accordingly,  instead  of  being  forced  to  run  away,  his  rider  is  par- 
ticularly afraid  lest  he  should  do  so,  simply  because  he  knows  that 
the  remedy  which  would  cure  the  wild  horse  would  probably  kill 
him.  In  fact,  the  difference  to  the  rider  between  an  open  and  an 
enclosed  field  of  battle  is  exactly  that  which  a  naval  officer  feels  in 
scudding  in  a  gale  of  wind  out  of  sight  of  land,  and  in  being 
caught  among  sand-banks  and  rocks  in  a  narrow  channel. 

"  3.  Of  all  descriptions  of  horses,  wild  and  tame,  by  far  the  most 
difficult  to  ride  is  that  young  British  thorough-bred  colt  of  two  or 
three  years  old  that  has  been  regularly  '  broken  in '  by  himself, 
without  giving  the  slightest  warning,  to  jump  away  sideways,  spin 
round,  and  at  the  same  moment  kick  off  his  rider.  This  feat  is  a 
beautiful  and  well  arranged  combination  of  nature  and  of  art.  Like 
the  pugilistic  champion  of  England — Tom  Sayers — he  is  a  pro- 
13* 


150  THE  HORSE. 

fessional  performer,  gifted  with  so  much  strength  and  activity,  and 
skilful  in  so  many  quick,  artful  tricks  and  dodges,  that  any  country 
practitioner  that  comes  to  deal  with  him  is  no  sooner  up  than 
down,  to  rise  from  his  mother  earth  with  a  vague,  bewildered,  in- 
coherent idea  as  to  what  had  befallen  him,  or  '  how  he  got  there/ 

"If  a  horse  of  this  description  and  a  wild  one  in  his  own 
country  were  to  be  mounted  there  simultaneously,  each  by  an 
equally  good  rider,  both  the  quadrupeds,  probably  at  the  same 
moment,  would  be  seen  to  run  away ;  the  Briton  forever,  to  gain 
his  liberty;  the  other  quadruped,  just  as  surely,  to  lose  it !" 

Nothing  can  better  convey  to  the  reader  the  difficulties  which 
the  English  horse-breaker  has  to  contend  with,  than  this  extract 
from  the  pages  of  Sir  F.  B.  Head,  who  has  had  ample  opportuni- 
ties of  judging  both  the  varieties  of  the  species  which  he  describes. 
It  shows  the  necessity  for  the  cautious  proceedings  which  I  have 
endeavored  to  describe  as  the  proper  mode  of  breaking  our  young 
horses,  and  which  I  am  satisfied  will  enable  the  breaker  to  perform 
his  task  in  a  way  which  will  be  satisfactory  to  his  employer.  It 
may,  however,  be  worth  while  to  examine  into  the  methods  adopted 
in  the  French  school,  as  first  introduced  by  M.  Baucher. 

His  ''METHOD  OP  HORSEMANSHIP"  was  published  nearly 
twenty  years  ago,  and  has  been  generally  received  on  the  continent, 
where  the  principles  of  the  manege  have  always  been  more  highly 
prized  than  in  this  country.  The  author  tells  us,  as  his  first  prin- 
ciple, "that  all  the  resistances  of  young  horses  spring  from  a 
physical  cause,  and  that  this  cause  only  becomes  a  moral  one  by 
the  awkwardness,  ignorance,  and  brutality  of  the  rider.  In  fact, 
besides  the  natural  stiffness  peculiar  to  all  horses,  each  of  them 
has  a  peculiar  conformation,  the  greater  or  less  perfection  of  which 
constitutes  the  degree  of  harmony  that  exists  between  the  forces 
and  the  weight.  The  want  of  this  harmony  occasions  the  un- 
gracefulness  of  their  paces,  the  difficulty  of  their  movements — in 
a  word,  all  the  obstacles  to  a  good  education."  To  remove  these 
defects,  M.  Baucher  adopts  certain  methods  of  suppling  the  neck, 
in  which  he  considers  the  chief  obstacle  to  perfect  action  resides. 
Without  going  into  the  long  details  of  the  various  supplings.  it  will 
be  sufficient  to  describe  the  general  division  of  the  work  which  the 
author  considers  necessary.  This,  he  thinks,  must  extend  to  two 
months,  divided  into  one  hundred  and  twenty  lessons  of  half  an 
hour  each,  two  being  given  each  day.  During  the  first  series  of 
eight  lessons,  the  breaker  will  devote  twenty  minutes  to  the  sta- 
tionary exercise  for  the  flexions  of  the  jaw  and  neck,  which  can 
hardly  be  efficiently  described  without  the  illustrations  given  in 
the  book  itself.  During  the  remaining  ten  minutes,  he  will  make 
the  horse  go  forward  at  a  walk,  without  trying  to  animate  him ; 
applying  himself  all  the  time  to  keeping  the  horse's  head  in  a  per- 


BREAKING  TO  HARNESS.  151 

pendicular  position.  In  the  second  series,  comprising  ten  days,  the 
first  fifteen  minutes  will  be  occupied  in  stationary  supplings  and 
backings,  followed  by  an  equal  time  devoted  to  moving  straight 
ahead  in  the  walk  and  trot.  The  rider,  while  taking  care  to  keep 
the  head  in  good  place,  will  commence  a  slight  opposition  of  hand 
and  legs,  in  order  to  give  regularity  to  the  paces.  The  third  series, 
making  up  twelve  days,  will  combine  the  previous  supplings  with 
pirouettes  ;  while  the  fourth  and  fifth  series,  making  up  the  whole 
time,  will  go  on  to  develop  the  various  elementary  paces  of  the 
manege.  Now,  in  all  this,  it  appears  to  me  that  we  have  only  our 
best  English  modes  of  breaking  carried  out  to  excess ;  and  I  am 
yet  to  learn  that  any  great  novelty  has  been  introduced  by  this 
standard  authority  of  the  French  school. 

SUPERIORITY  OF  THE  ORDINARY  METHOD. 

IT  WILL  READILY  BE  GATHERED  from  what  I  have  already  writ- 
ten that  for  breaking  the  average  colt  I  greatly  prefer  the  methods 
which  have  been  in  use  for  many  years  in  this  country.  Mr.  Ra- 
rey  is  entitled  to  every  credit  for  introducing  a  novel  mode  of  con- 
trolling a  vicious  horse,  which  is  also  of  service  in  training  cavalry 
and  circus  horses.  Beyond  these  departments,  however,  his  plans 
effect  no  good  as  far  as  my  judgment  goes,  and  instead  of  improv- 
ing the  mouth  they  have  a  tendency  to  injure  it.  I  have  shown 
that  time  and  patience  are  grand  elements  of  success  in  horse- 
breaking,  and  that  it  is  a  disadvantage  to  hasten  the  process,  which 
is  all  that  Mr.  Rarey  pretends  to  effect.  We  do  not  want  to  man- 
age our  horses  without  reins,  but  on  the  contrary  to  guide  them 
and  stop  them  with  the  slightest  possible  touch  consistent  with  the 
equilibrium  to  be  maintained  in  the  saddle.  Hence  the  first  object 
is  the  formation  of  a  good  mouth,  and  as  this  requires  a  consider- 
able time  to  develop,  there  are  ample  opportunities  for  gradually 
accustoming  the  colt  to  the  presence  and  control  of  his  master 
while  it  is  being  produced.  If  several  breakers  were  to  be  pitted 
against  each  other  as  to  which  should  first  ride  a  high-spirited 
unbroken  colt,  undoubtedly  Mr.  Rarey  would  come  off  victorious ; 
but,  on  the  other  hand,  I  would  back  against  any  horse  broken  by 
his  method,  another  which  had  been  submitted  to  a  good  breaker 
on  the  old  English  plan,  if  the  palm  was  to  be  given  to  that  one 
which  should  prove  to  have  the  most  perfect  mouth  and  action. 

BREAKING  TO  HARNESS. 

THE  EARLY  PROCEEDINGS  in  breaking  a  colt  to  harness  are 
exactly  the  same  as  for  the  saddle,  and  indeed  it  is  well  in  all  cases 
to  make  him  handy  to  ride  before  he  is  put  into  the  break.  We 
may  therefore  assume  that  this  has  been  done,  or  at  all  events  that 
a  good  mouth  has  been  made,  and  the  colt  handled  and  accustomed 


152  THE  HORSE. 

to  bear  the  hip-straps  hanging  loosely  over  his  sides  prior  to  put- 
ting him  in  harness. 

THERE  is  SOME  DIFFERENCE  OF  OPINION  among  breakers  as  to 
the  best  plan  of  conducting  this  operation.  Some  contend  that  for 
every  kind  of  harness  the  horse  ought  to  be  put  in  with  another, 
who  will  compel  him  to  move  or  stop  at  the  will  of  the  driver. 
Others  assert  that  on  the  contrary,  every  young  horse  should  be 
put  in  first  by  himself,  and  then  if  he  refuse  to  move  he  can  be 
allowed  to  wait  till  he  is  tired  of  inactivity,  which  practically  he 
soon  is.  ;  My  own  opinion  is  founded  upon  more  than  twenty  years' 
experience  with  all  sorts  of  horses,  and  I  am  persuaded  that  by  far 
the  safest  and  best  method  is  to  put  every  horse  into  double  harness 
first.  Many  farmers  break  their  colts  in  by  putting  them  to  plough 
between  two  other  horses,  but  the  pull  at  this  work  is  too  dead  for 
well-bred  colts,  and  many  jibbers  are  produced  in  this  way.  Every 
high-couraged  horse  has  a  tendency  to  jump  forward  on  the  first 
impulse  to  do  so.,  and  feeling  the  restraint  of  the  collar  he  is  irri- 
tated to  increase  his  pull,  whereby  his  shoulders  are  galled,  causing 
him  to  dislike  his  work  from  the  pain  which  he  suffers.  It  is  quite 
possible  to  break  in  a  colt  of  average  good  temper  for  single  har- 
ness without  putting  him  first  into  double,  but  the  plan  is  always 
attended  with  danger  to  both  horse  and  driver,  and  I  should 
strongly  caution  my  readers  against  it.  Even  after  two  or  three 
lessons  in  the  double  break,  which  have  been  quietly  submitted  to, 
the  colt  often  turns  restive  when  put  in  by  himself,  but  still  by 
that  time  he  knows  what  he  has  to  do,  and  is  not  made  sulky  by 
being  punished  without  cause. 

THE  APPARATUS  necessary  for  breaking  to  harness  consists  of, 
1st,  a  set  of  strong  double  and  single  harness,  made  in  the  ordinary 
way,  except  that  the  crupper  for  the  colt  should  buckle  on  one 
side ;  2dly,  a  double  break  of  the  ordinary  construction ;  but  it  is 
a  safe  plan  to  have  the  whole  space  between  the  fore  carriage  and 
the  splinter-bar  made  up  with  iron  rods  so  close  together  that  if  a 
horse  kicks  he  cannot  get  his  legs  hung  over  the  bar;  3dly,  a 
single  break,  to  be  hereafter  described. 

BEFORE  THE  COLT  is  put  to  draw  he  should  be  accustomed  to 
the  pressure  of  the  harness,  and  as  a  matter  of  course  in  any  case 
he  must  have  this  put  on  him.  Every  groom  ought  to  know  how 
to  do  this,  but  at  the  same  time  in  a  colt  he  should  be  cautioned 
to  proceed  slowly  and  quietly,  so  as  not  to  frighten  him.  Mr. 
Rarey's  plan  of  showing  the  horse  everything  which  is  to  be  put  on 
him  is  a  very  good  one,  and  taking  advantage  of  it,  before  the  collar 
is  slipped  over  the  head  a  little  time  may  be  allowed  for  the  future 
wearer  of  it  to  smell  it  and  examine  it  with  his  eyes  also.  Many 
breakers,  to  avoid  the  danger  of  alarming  their  pupils  by  putting 
the  collar  over  their  heads,  have  this  part  made  to  open  at  the 


BREAKING  TO  HARNESS.  153 

withers,  where  a  buckle  secures  it  after  it  has  been  slipped  up 
under  the  neck.  But  collars  made  in  this  way  are  not  so  firm  as 
when  constructed  in  the  ordinary  mode,  and  are  more  liable  to 
punish  the  shoulders,  so  that  what  is  gained  in  one  way  is  lost  in 
the  other.  A  quiet  and  handy  man  can  always  slip  a  collar  over 
a  horse's  head  if  he  will  take  time,  and  especially  if  he  has  pre- 
viously handled  the  animal  and  made  him  accustomed  to  his  pre- 
sence. As  soon  as  this  part  of  the  harness  is  in  its  place  the  pad 
and  crupper  must  be  gently  put  on  the  back,  and  then  quietly 
raising  the  tail  with  every  hair  gathered  and  firmly  grasped  in  the 
left  hand  the  right  slips  the  crupper  under  it,  and  as  soon  as  this 
is  done  the  left  drops  the  tail  and  assists  the  right  to  buckle  the 
two  parts  together.  In  the  previous  breaking  the  colt  has  been 
accustomed  to  the  crupper,  so  that  there  is  no  occasion  for  extra 
care  in  this  part  now.  The  pad  is  then  drawn  forward  to  its  place, 
the  bellyband  buckled,  and  the  rest  of  the  harness  being  put  on  in 
the  ordinary  way,  the  colt  is  allowed  to  feel  it  for  a  few  minutes, 
and  should  then  be  led  out  in  a  yard  or  other  convenient  place  for 
an  hour.  The  general  practice  is  after  this  to  put  him  to  at  once, 
but  it  is  far  better  if  the  colt  is  at  all  shy  to  take  off  the  harness 
and  postpone  the  commencement  of  actual  breaking  till  the 
next  day. 

THE  ACTUAL  PUTTING  TO  is  managed  differently  in  double  and 
single  harness,  but  as  I  have  endeavored  to  show  that  the  former 
should  always  precede  the  latter,  I  shall  commence  by  describing 
it.  In  breaking  to  double  harness  a  steady  old  horse  should  be 
provided,  usually  called  a  break-horse.  All  that  is  wanted  is  an 
animal  of  good  courage  and  free  from  vice,  who  will  draw  steadily 
off  on  the  slightest  notice,  and  will  stop  firmly  when  required. 
Some  old  horses  which  have  had  a  great  deal  of  practice  in  the 
break  will  assist  their  masters  in  a  wonderful  manner.  If  a  colt 
kicks  over  the  pole  they  will  press  against  the  intruding  leg  and 
cause  him  so  much  pain  that  he  remains  quiet  till  he  is  relieved. 
Indeed,  it  matters  not  what  the  attempt  is,  they  defeat  it  by  some 
counter  manosuvre,  but  these  horses  are  rare  and  fortunately  are 
by  no  means  essential  to  success.  Before  attaching  the  colt  the 
break-horse  should  be  put  to,  and  it  is  usual  to  place  him  on  the 
near  side.  Then,  having  the  break  conveniently  situated  for  start- 
ing, the  colt  is  brought  out  with  a  halter  on  and  the  cord  knotted 
to  his  tracebearer,  so  as  to  give  a  good  hold  in  case  he  plunges  or 
kicks.  The  pole-piece  is  then  loosely  buckled  up,  after  which  the 
inside  trace  is  slipped  over  the  roller  bolt,  and  then  the  breaksman 
pushing  the  quarters  forcibly  inwards  the  outside  trace  is  carefully 
adjusted  and  the  pole-piece  buckled  up  to  its  proper  length. 
Quickly  but  quietly  and  without  fuss  the  reins  are  crossed  and 
buckled,  and  the  ends  being  taken  by  the  breaker  he  mounts  to 


154  THE  HORSE. 

the  box,  gives  the  word  to  the  break-horse  to  move,  and  the  break 
is  quietly  started  without  any  notice  to  the  colt,  or  effort  on  his 
part.  In  the  great  majority  of  instances  no  resistance  is  made, 
and  all  goes  on  smoothly  for  some  time.  The  break  should  be 
driven  slowly  for  three  or  four  miles,  and  then  the  breaksman  who 
assists  the  breaker  going  to  the  side  of  the  colt  pulls  him  round 
by  the  halter  as  the  breaker  drives  the  break-horse  in  a  wide  circle 
for  turning.  In  returning  the  horses  should  be  stopped  and  started 
again  several  times,  and  if  the  colt  is  pretty  handy  the  turning 
may  be  repeated  once  or  twice,  but  more  than  an  hour's  drive 
should  not  be  attempted  for  fear  of  galling  the  shoulders,  to  pre- 
vent which  the  inside  of  the  collar  should  be  well  oiled  on  all  occa- 
sions just  before  starting.  When  taking  the  young  horse  out  the 
process  of  putting  to  should  be  exactly  reversed.  A  repetition  of 
this  lesson,  and  constant  turning  into  narrow  lanes  and  crowded 
streets,  together  with  uphill  and  downhill  work,  will  soon  make  the 
young  horse  handy  in  double  harness,  though  for  town  work  a  con- 
siderable time  must  elapse  before  he  can  be  depended  on  in  a 
crush,  especially  without  a  steady  companion.  No  horse  should 
be  depended  upon  until  he  has  been  roused  either  by  accidental 
circumstances,  or,  if  these  do  not  present  themselves,  by  an  appli- 
cation of  the  whip,  for  it  often  happens  that  a  colt  will  go  quietly 
enough  while  his  temper  is  unruffled,  but  when  it  is  once  upset  he 
shows  tight  until  he  is  conquered  or  himself  gains  the  victory. 
Now  it  is  far  better  that  this  should  occur  while  in  the  hands  of 
the  breaker  than  after  he  is  sent  home  as  thoroughly  perfect  in 
harness. 

WHEN  THE  COLT  has  had  five  or  six  lessons  in  double  harness, 
and  has  been  made  to  show  the  nature  of  his  temper  in  the  way 
I  have  just  described,  he  may  safely  be  put  in  the  shafts,  but  not 
till  then.  The  single-break  is  a  stoutly-built  two-wheeled  vehicle, 
with  strong  and  straight  ash  shafts.  It  should  be  so  high  as  to 
preclude  the  possibility  of  the  horse  kicking  over  the  drawing- 
bar;  and  though  occasionally  it  will  happen  that  a  clever  animal 
will  kick  very  high  indeed,  yet  there  are  few  that  will  get  over  a 
bar  three  feet  from  the  ground.  A  kicking-strap  and  safety-rein 
should  always  be  used,  for  fear  of  accidents;  and  a  breaker  of 
experience  generally  uses  the  driving-rein  in  the  cheek  and  the 
safety-rein  in  the  lower  bar;  both  being  held  in  the  same  way  as 
for  four  horses.  No  bearing-rein  should  be  employed ;  and  the 
tugs  should  be  made  open  above,  so  as  to  drop  the  shafts  into  them. 
With  these  precautions,  there  is  no  difficulty  in  putting  a  colt  into 
single  harness;  but,  if  at  all  stubborn,  he  may  not  be  easily  made 
to  start,  having  no  break  horse  to  take  him  off.  Usually,  however, 
when  five  or  six  lessons  in  double  harness  have  been  given,  the 
colt  walks  off  quietly  enough;  but,  after  one  or  two  lessons,  he 


STABLES— SITUATION  AND  ASPECT.  155 

discovers  that  what  is  to  be  done  must  be  done  by  him  unassisted, 
and  he  is  then  very  apt  to  give  himself  airs,  if  his  temper  is  at  all 
inclined  to  be  bad.  Kicking  may  be  kept  under  by  the  kicking- 
strap;  running  away  may  be  restrained  by  the  bit;  but  jibbing  in 
single  harness  is  very  difficult  to  get  over.  If  necessary,  an  out- 
rigger may  be  applied  to  the  break,  and  a  second  horse  put  on; 
but  it  is  better  to  exercise  the  patience  by  quietly  sitting  still, 
when,  afte*r  a  short  time,  the  jibber  generally  moves  on  of  his  own 
accord.  Beyond  these  expedients,  nothing  more  is  required  than 
time  and  practice. 


CHAPTER  X. 
STABLES. 

Situation  and  Aspect — Foundations — Stalls  versus  Loose  Boxes — 
Hay  Chamber  and  Granary — Doors  and  Windows — Drainage 
and  Water  Supply — Ventilation  and  Lighting — Stable  Fittings — 
Harness  Room  —  Coach-House  —  Servants1  Rooms  —  Ground 
Plans  of  Stables — Necessity  for  Airing  New  Stables. 

SITUATION  AND  ASPECT. 

THE  TWO  MOST  IMPORTANT  POINTS  to  be  regarded  in  the  choice 
of  a  situation,  are,  first,  the  power  of  excluding  damp;  and,  sec- 
ondly, the  best  means  of  keeping  up  a  tolerably  even  temperature 
in  winter  and  summer.  It  is  seldom  that  the  stables  are  fixed 
without  regard  to  the  convenience  of  the  inmates  of  the  house 
itself,  the  corner  most  out  of  sight  being  the  one  usually  selected 
as  good  enough  for  them.  It  should  not,  however,  be  forgotten, 
that  the  horse  is  a  native  of  a  dry  country,  and  cannot  be  kept  in 
health  in  a  damp  situation  either  in-doors  or  out.  Nothing,  ex- 
cept starvation,  tells  injuriously  so  soon  upon  the  horse  as  damp 
when  exposed  to  it — he  loses  all  life  and  spirit;  work  soon  tires 
him;  his  coat  stares;  he  will  scarcely  look  at  his  food,  and  he  be- 
comes rapidly  emaciated,  severe  disease,  often  in  the  shape  of  some 
prevailing  epidemic,  showing  itself  after  a  short  time,  and  gene- 
rally soon  ending  in  death.  Grease  and  cracked  heels,  swelled 
legs,  hide  bound,  inflamed  eyes,  and  coughs  and  colds,  are  the 
evils  which  attend  damp,  when  exhibited  only  in  a  slight  degree ; 
but  these  are  sufficient  to  interfere  with  the  use  of  the  horse,  and. 
irrespective  of  other  reasons,  as  domestic  comfort  is  greatly  de- 
pendent on  the  carriage  being  always  at  command,  the  stables 
should  not  be  sacrificed,  as  they  too  often  are,  to  a  fancy  for  keep- 
ing them  out  of  sight. 


156  THE  HORSE. 

IN  CHOOSING  THE  SITUATION,  therefore,  a  spot  should  be  looked 
out  which  will  be  high  enough  to  allow  of  perfect  drainage  at  all 
seasons  of  the  year.  No  periodically  overflowing  brook  should 
ever  be  allowed  to  discharge  its  contents  into  the  foundations,  for 
even  if  the  floor  of  the  stable  itself  is  kept  above  the  water,  yet 
the  soil  underneath  will  be  saturated,  and  acting  like  a  sponge, 
will  allow  the  damp  to  creep  up  the  walls  incessantly.  Sometimes, 
in  order  to  keep  the  stables  well  out  of  sight,  a  hollo w.is  chosen, 
and  the  floor  is  then  excavated  below  the  level  of  the  surrounding 
surface.  The  consequence  is,  that  even  in  a  summer-storm,  the 
rain-fall  of  the  surrounding  land  finds  its  way — either  into  the 
stable,  or  around  it;  and  the  effect  is  equally  injurious  in  either. 
Concrete  under  the  floor,  and  courses  of  slate  at  the  bottom  of  the 
walls,  will  do  something  to  meet  the  evil ;  but  it  is  better  to  avoid 
it  altogether  by  choosing  a  site  at  least  two  or  three  feet  out  of 
the  way  of  all  flood-water,  and  with  a  good  fall  into  a  sewer  or 
adjacent  running  stream. 

As  TO  THE  ASPECT,  there  is  some  difference  of  opinion  whether 
it  should  be  northerly  or  southerly,  all  being  adverse  to  a  direc- 
tion either  due  east  or  west;  the  former  being  too  cold,  and  the 
latter  too  hot.  As  far  as  I  know,  all  writers  on  the  subject  have 
preferred  a  southerly  aspect,  until  the  recent  appearance  of  Mr. 
Miles'  "  General  Remarks  on  Stables,"  in  which  valuable  work  an 
opinion  is  expressed  that  "the  prevailing  desire  to  have  the  front 
of  the  stable  due  south  is  a  mistake."  The  reasons  for  coming  to 
this  conclusion  are  grounded  upon  the  fact,  which  is  undeniable, 
that  a  more  even  temperature  can  be  maintained  if  the  situation 
is  sufficiently  sheltered  from  the  stroke  of  the  wind.  No  doubt, 
a  southerly  aspect  allows  the  sun  to  enter  with  great  power  in  the 
summer;  but  my  experience  does  notjead  me  to  believe  that  flies 
are  less  likely  to  get  in  through  a  door  or  window  open  to  the 
north,  than  through  similar  openings  looking  south.  Mr.  Miles 
even  objects  to  the  heat  of  a  winter's  sun,  which,  he  says,  in  the 
middle  of  the  day  makes  the  stable  almost  as  hot  as  in  the  sum- 
mer ;  the  heat  being  often  suddenly  succeeded  by  a  degree  of  cold 
approaching  the  freezing  point.  Here,  again,  I  certainly  cannot 
follow  him,  and  I  should  hail  with  pleasure  any  beams  of  the  sun 
which  show  themselves  between  November  and  March,  either  in 
the  stable  or  kennel.  Animal  life  is  always  benefited  by  the  direct 
rays  of  the  sun,  although,  when  the  heat  produced  by  them  is  in- 
tense, the  mischief  done  is  so  great  as  to  counteract  the  advantage. 
Still,  in  the  winters  of  this  country,  such  a  thing  is  not,  in  my 
opinion,  to  be  dreamt  of,  as  a  properly  ventilated  stable  becoming 
too  hot,  and  I  look  upon  Mr.  Miles'  conclusions  as  being  consider- 
ably strained  when  he  is  arguing  in  favor  of  a  northerly  aspect. 
I  do  not  mean  to  assert  that,  on  the  whole,  he  is  wrong,  but  that 


FOUNDATIONS— STALLS.  157 

his  arguments  are  based  upon  certain  assumed  facts  which  I  hesi- 
tate to  accept.  It  should  not  be  forgotten  that  his  own  stable, 
which  is  undoubtedly  a  pet  one,  was  accidentally  built  to  face  the 
north  ;  and,  therefore,  while,  on  the  one  hand,  his  experience  of 
the  advantages  of  this  aspect  should  be  accepted  with  all  respect; 
on  the  other,  it  may  be  conceded  that  he  naturally  has  a  tendency 
to  overlook  the  disadvantages  because  they  are  inevitable. 

FOUNDATIONS. 

IN  MOST  CASES  stables  are  not  built  of  more  than  the  basement 
story,  with  a  loft  over,  which  is  generally,  almost  entirely,  con- 
structed in  the  roof;  the  walls,  therefore,  are  not  high,  and  do  not 
require  deep  foundations,  even  if  they  are  built  on  clay,  which  is 
more  liable  to  cause  cracks,  &c.,  than  any  other  species  of  soil  of  a 
uniform  character.  It  is  a  very  common  plan,  on  this  account,  to 
lay  the  foundations  of  any  kind  of  coarse  and  stony  material ;  but  if 
this  is  done,  a  course  of  broken  slates  should  be  laid  in  cement  a 
little  above  the  level  of  the  ground ;  or,  instead  of  this,  a  course 
or  two  of  hard  bricks  should  be  laid  in  the  same  material,  so  as  to 
prevent  the  damp  from  striking  up  the  walls  by  capillary  attrac- 
tion. A  neglect  of  this  precaution  has.  in  several  instances  within 
my  own  knowledge,  kept  stables  damp  in  spite  of  attention  to 
drainage  and  a  resort  to  all  sorts  of  expedients  which  could  be  car- 
ried out  subsequent  to  the  building  of  the  walls. 

STALLS  AND  LOOSE  BOXES. 

WITH  REGARD  TO  THE  NUMBER  of  stalls  or  loose  boxes  which 
should  be  grouped  together  in  one  apartment,  there  is  little  differ- 
ence of  opinion  now-a-days  among  practical  men,  that  more  than 
from  four  to  six  horses  should  not  be  allowed  to  stand  together. 
The  former  number  is  the  better;  but  sometimes  there  may  be 
circumstances  which  will  excuse  the  latter  being  adopted ;  as,  for 
instance,  when  this  number  are  kept,  and  the  space  occupied  by  a 
partition-wall  is  an  object.  Even  then,  however,  a  boarded  parti- 
tion may  be  introduced,  and  as  it  will  not  occupy  an  additional 
room,  there  is  no  objection  on  that  account.  When  a  larger  num- 
ber of  horses  are  stabled  together,  there  is  great  difficulty  in  keep- 
ing up  an  even  temperature,  unless,  as  in  the  case  of  omnibus  and 
cab  horses,  the  same  number  are  nearly  always  absent  at  work.  In 
private  stables,  however,  all  or  nearly  all  the  horses  are  often  out 
at  once,  and  then  in  a  large  space  the  temperature  is  reduced  so 
much,  that  when  they  return,  two  or  three  at  a  time,  followed  by 
others,  and  compel  the  doors  to  be  constantly  opened  and  shut, 
there  is,  first  of  all,  danger  of  chilling  each  as  he  comes  in,  and  if 
he  escapes  this,  of  producing  that  injurious  effect  when  the  next 
horse  comes  home.  Practically  it  is  found  that  the  long  row  of 
14 


158  THE  HORSE. 

stalls  does  not  conduce  to  the  health  of  the  horses,  and  although 
it  may  please  the  eye  of  the  master  to  look  down  a  long  line  of 
valuable  animals,  this  arrangement  is  by  no  means  to  be  recom- 
mended. Either  two  stalls  with  a  loose  box  at  one  or  both  sides, 
or,  perhaps,  as  I  said  before,  even  four  stalls  with  a  similar  arrange- 
ment of  loose  boxes,  should  be  the  aim  of  the  builder  of  a  stable 
for  general  private  work,  and  in  this,  as  well  as  in  all  other  cases, 
appearances  should  be  sacrificed  to  utility. 

OF  LATE  YEARS  there  has  been  a  great  demand  for  loose  boxes, 
and  every  private  horse-keeper  who  could  afford  the  extra  space, 
has  adopted  the  plan,  at  all  events  for  a  large  proportion  of  his 
stud.  For  hunters  and  race-horses,  when  they  are  doing  severe 
work,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  quiet  and  liberty  allowed  in 
a  box  are  far  preferable  to  the  restraint  of  a  stall,  where  the  horse 
is  constantly  liable  to  be  disturbed  by  the  ingress  and  egress  of 
men  and  horses.  In  the  stall,  also,  there  must  be  a  slope  (though 
not  necessarily  a  great  one),  from  before  backwards,  so  as  to  pro- 
vide for  surface  drainage ;  and  this  compels  the  horse  who  is  tied 
to  the  manger  to  stand  with  his  hind  feet  lower  than  his  fore, 
which  is  a  tiresome  position  if  continued  for  any  length  of  time,  and 
which  therefore  induces  so  many  to  stand  back  to  the  full  length 
of  their  reins.  But  the  horse  is  a  social  animal,  and  does  not  like 
solitary  confinement  any  more  than  the  dog;  indeed,  some  which 
will  do  well  when  placed  in  a  stall,  will  even  refuse  their  food,  and 
actually  lose  condition,  if  removed  to  a  loose  box,  out  of  sight  of 
companions.  If  therefore  the  quiet  and  comparative  liberty  of  a 
loose  box  can  be  combined  with  the  society  of  the  stall,  the  only 
objections  to  each  are  got  rid  of,  and  the  best  kind  of  accommoda- 
tion for  the  horse  is  provided,  though  even  in  a  loose  box  it  is  not 
always  desirable  to  leave  the  inmate  loose. 

IN  LARGE  STABLES  intended  for  business  purposes,  such  as  for 
omnibus,  cab,  and  wagon  horses,  loose  boxes  are  out  of  the  ques- 
tion, on  account  of  the  area  which  they  require,  extra  width  being 
necessary  for  the  horse  to  turn  round  in,  inasmuch  as  he  cannot  in 
them  put  his  head  over  the  travis,  as  he  always  does  while  turning 
in  a  stall.  A  full-sized  animal  must  have  his  box  at  least  10  feet 
wide  by  12  long,  which  gives  an  area  of  120  superficial  feet,  in- 
stead of  80  or  85,  the  area  required  for  a  six-foot  stall,  including 
the  gangway.  Indeed,  the  above  dimensions  are  scarcely  large 
enough  for  a  box,  a  roomy  one  being  from  15  to  18  feet  long  by  at 
least  ten  feet  wide.  Again,  the  consumption  of  straw  in  a  box  is 
much  greater  than  in  a  stall,  the  droppings  of  the  horse  not  being 
deposited  in  any  one  place,  as  in  the  latter,  but  scattered  all  over 
the  surface,  and  spoiling  the  litter  whereon  they  may  happen  to 
lie.  For  these  reasons  loose  boxes  are  not  introduced  into  any 


HAY  CHAMBER  AND  GRANARY.  159 

stables  but  those  for  race-horses,  hunters,  and  in  a  certain  propor- 
tion for  hacks  and  carriage  horses.  In  every  large  establishment 
a  small  number  must  be  set  aside  for  the  sick  and  lame,  but  I  am 
now  solely  discussing  their  merits  as  applied  to  horses  doing  work. 

HAY  CHAMBER  AND  GRANARY. 

IN  EVERY  STABLE  conducted  economically,  whether  in  town  or 
country,  a  space  should  be  allotted  for  storing  hay,  straw,  and  corn. 
Hay  and  straw  are  either  sold  by  the  ton  or  by  the  load,  which  is 
two  cwt.  less,  and  on  that  account  the  loft  should  always  hold  at 
least  a  ton  of  hay,  and  the  same  quantity  of  straw,  because  if  a 
smaller  bulk  is  purchased,  it  cannot  be  obtained  at  the  regular 
market  price.  Now  a  ton  of  hay  cut  into  trusses  will  nearly  occupy 
the  space  over  an  ordinary  loose  box,  supposing  that  the  walls  of 
the  loft  are  not  carried  up  far  above  the  floor,  and  every  additional 
yard  in  height  of  wall  allows  stowage  for  another  ton.  Straw  occu- 
pies more  space  by  nearly  one-half,  and  it  may  be  calculated  that 
a  loft  formed  entirely  in  a  tiled  roof  of  the  usual  pitch,  must  have 
an  area  equal  to  two  roomy  loose  boxes,  or  two  stalls  and  a  box,  to 
stow  away  a  ton  of  hay  and  a  ton  of  straw,  and  even  then  there 
will  be  little  space  for  any  other  purpose.  To  find  room  for  a 
corn-bruiser  and  chaff-cutter,  as  well  as  for  a  stock  of  oats,  a 
granary  with  an  area  at  least  as  large  as  a  loose  box  should  be  ar- 
ranged, and  with  these  conveniences  a  stable  may  be  said  to  be 
complete — that  is  to  say,  with  dry  and  airy  stowage-room,  some- 
where, amounting  altogether  to  about  2000  cubical  feet.  If  the 
number  of  horses  kept  is  larger  than  three  or  four,  the  hay-chamber 
need  not  generally  be  increased  to  any  great  extent,  because  the 
hay  and  corn  are  purchased  by  the  ton  or  load ;  but  it  is  often  a 
great  convenience  to  have  accommodations  for  two  or  three  months' 
provender,  and  therefore  it  is  always  well  to  be  provided  with  space 
enough  for  that  purpose,  if  it  can  be  so  arranged. 

WITH  THESE  CALCULATIONS  TO  GUIDE  HIM,  the  builder  has 
next  to  consider  where  he  shall  fix  the  stowage-room  which  I  have 
said  will  be  necessary.  Formerly  a  loft  was  almost  always  provided 
over  the  stable,  in  which  the  provender  was  kept;  but  in  those 
days,  when  high  racks  were  in  vogue,  a  trap-door  was  left  over 
them  to  keep  them  supplied,  and  the  consequence  was,  that,  in  the 
first  place,  the  horses  were  continually  annoyed  with  the  dust  fall- 
ing through,  and,  in  the  second,  the  hay  was  injured  by  the  vapor 
from  the  stable  reaching  it  through  the  same  opening.  On  these 
accounts  a  great  outcry  was  raised  against  placing  the  loft  in  this 
situation ;  and  stable-architects  insisted  upon  a  hay  chamber,  as  it 
was  called,  being  built  on  the  ground-floor,  or  at  all  events  in  some 
other  situation  than  that  usually  allotted  to  it.  There  was  great 
sense  in  this  precaution,  and  for  a  time  credit  was  due  to  the  pro- 


160  THE  HORSE. 

moters  of  the  improvement ;  but  on  the  subsequent  introduction  of 
low  racks  (which  the  grooms  did  not  object  to  when  they  had  to  bring 
their  hay  in  through  the  stable  door),  and  the  simultaneous  dismissal 
of  the  openings  over  them  to  the  loft,  the  objections  to  the  old 
situation  of  the  latter  were  done  away  with;  and  the  objections  of 
the  grooms  having  been  removed,  no  opposition  could  be  offered 
by  them,  and  thus  it  has  come  to  pass  that  in  most  of  our  best 
stables  low  racks  are  established  without  openings  over  them,  and 
with  the  hay  and  straw  stowed  in  a  loft  overhead,  perfectly  pro- 
tected from  injury  from  the  stable  emanations,  by  means  of  a  sound 
floor  and  a  good  ceiling  beneath  it.  The  fodder  so  placed  does 
good  instead  of  harm,  inasmuch  as  being  a  bad  conductor  of  heat 
it  tends  to  keep  the  stable  cool  in  summer  and  warm  in  winter. 
Arrangements  are  easily  made  for  throwing  it  down  through  a 
shaft  in  some  convenient  spot,  clear  of  the  horses ;  and  as  it  cau 
more  readily  be  filled  from  the  cart  or  wagon  through  the  window 
than  a  chamber  on  the  ground,  labor  is  economised  also.  On  the 
whole  therefore  it  may  be  laid  down  that  if  low  racks  are  adopted, 
which  I  shall  hereafter  show  are  the  best  on  every  account,  the 
loft  should  be  placed  over  the  stable,  while  even  if  high  ones  are 
preferred,  it  may  be  fixed  in  the  same  situation,  provided  no  open- 
ings which  will  allow  the  passage  of  dust  and  steam  are  left  above 
them. 

THE  CONSTRUCTION  of  the  hay  chamber  should  be  such  as  will 
provide  for  getting  the  hay  and  straw  into  it ;  for  the  daily  supply 
of  these  articles  out  of  it  into  the  stable  can  always  be  easily  ma- 
naged without  mechanical  assistance.  Mr.  Miles,  in  the  work 
which  I  have  already  quoted,  suggests  the  introduction  of  a  spout 
leading  down  from  the  loft  to  the  manger,  so  as  to  convey  the  corn 
and  chaff  into  it ;  but  I  have  a  great  objection  to  any  plan  which 
allows  of  a  direct  communication  from  the  one  to  the  other,  and  as 
neither  corn  nor  chaff  is  a  bulky  article,  it  is  easy  for  the  groom  to 
carry  them  in  his  sieve.  Moreover,  each  feed  of  corn  should  be 
sifted  and  examined  for  stones,  which  cannot  so  well  be  done  in 
the  bulk.  I  should  therefore  strongly  advise  the  planner  of  a 
stable  to  avoid  all  such  premiums  upon  laziness,  and  to  keep  the 
ceiling  of  his  stable  perfectly  intact,  except  for  the  purpose  of 
carrying  off  the  obnoxious  gases  which  are  the  product  of  respi- 
ration. 

THE  GRANARY,  however,  will  require  several  fittings ;  and,  in 
the  first  place,  it  should  be  so  constructed  as  to  be  mice-proof.  If 
the  walls  are  soundly  built,  no  mice  can  gnaw  through  them,  but 
even  if  they  are  of  soft  materials,  a  lining  of  Roman  cement  will 
exclude  mice  altogether.  This  article  also  keeps  the  corn  dry, 
and  forms  an  excellent  floor,  as  well  as  lining  for  the  walls.  If 
the  granary  is  on  the  ground,  instead  of  using  boards,  which  har- 


FLOORS,  DOORS,  AND  WINDOWS. 


1G1 


bor  vermin  of  all  kinds,  lay  a  course  of  bricks  edgeways  upon 
concrete,  and  then  upon  the  former  have  an  inch  of  Roman  cement 
carefully  laid,  and  take  care  to  allow  time  for  it  to  harden.  When 
this  is  done,  corn  may  be  stored  without  fear  of  loss  by  mice,  and 
all  that  is  necessary  is  to  turn  it  over  every  fortnight  if  at  all  new, 
or  once  a  month  if  dry.  Few  grooms  are  to  be  trusted  with  an  un- 
limited supply  of  oats,  as  they  will  almost  all  waste  them  in  some  way 
or  other.  It  is  better  therefore  to  shut  off  a  part  of  the  granary 
with  open  lattice  or  wire-work,  admitting  a  free  current  of  air,  but 
not  allowing  anything  large  enough  to  contain  corn  to  pass  At 
stated  intervals  the  allowance  of  corn  may  be  taken  out  and  kept 
in  the  other  part  of  the  granary  till  wanted.  Here  also  should  be 
fixed  a  corn-bruiser  and  chaff-cutter,  and  also  a  bin  for  oats,  beans, 
and  chaff. 

MATERIALS  FOR  FLOORS,  DOORS,  AND  WINDOWS. 

AN  ATTEMPT  has  recently  been  made  to  revive  the  old  plan  of 
laying  an  open  or  perforated  wooden  floor  so  as  to  allow  the  urine 
to  pass  through,  and  thus  keep  the  litter  dry.  Mr.  Haycock,  in 
his  "  Gentleman's  Stable  Manual,"  is  a  strong  advocate  for  this 
plan,  but  I  cannot  say  that  I  am  impressed  with  his  arguments  in 
its  favor.  That  it  may  save  the  litter  to  some  extent  is  clear  enough, 
but  it  only  does  so  at  the  expense  of  cleanliness,  for  as  the  wood 
absorbs  a  great  deal  of  the  urine  in  its  descent,  ammonia  is  con- 
stantly being  given  off,  and  the  stable  is  never  sweet.  For  this 
reason  these  floors  were  abandoned  in  the  early  part  of  the  present 
century,  when  they  were  extensively  tried,  and  I  should  much 
regret  their  general  re-introduction.  It  may  be  laid  down  that  no 
material  should  be  used  for  stable  floors  which  absorbs  the  urine, 
but  to  select  one  which  in  itself  is  liable  to  decomposition  is  doubly 
wrong. 

THE  DOORS  of  stables  are  generally  made 
of  yellow,  or,  as  it  is  called  in  the  midland 
districts,  red  deal.  Sometimes  elm  is  used, 
but  it  is  very  liable  to  cast  or  warp.  Unless 
the  proprietor  is  very  particular  about  ap- 
pearances, what  is  called  a  "  ledge  door"  is 
considered  sufficient,  the  rails  being  of  inch- 
and-half  stuff,  and  the  boards  which  are  only 
nailed  on,  from  three-quarters  of  an  inch  to 
one  inch  thick.  The  ordinary  thumb-latch 
is  very  apt  to  catch  in  the  skin  of  the  horse 
as  he  passes  through,  causing  often  a  severe 
wound,  and  on  that  account  a  sunk  catch  is 
preferred  which  drops  into  a  recess  made 
for  it  in  the  door-frame,  but  this  is  not 
14*  L 


DOOR   FOR    LOOSE   BOX. 


162 


THE  HORSE. 


adapted  for  a  "  ledge  door,"  a  frame  at  least  two  inches  in  thick- 
ness being  necessary  to  allow  of  the  lock  being  let  in.  For  loose 
boxes  a  door  may  be  made  with  the  upper  half  of  open  iron  work 
as  in  the  annexed  engraving,  but  these  are  expensive  and  can  only 
be  adopted  when  money  is  not  considered.  In  a  door  of  this  con- 
struction the  hinges  are  so  arranged  that  with  a  rounded  edge  to 
the  frame  there  is  no  sharp  projection,  and  even  when  wide  open 
the  hip  of  the  horse  passing  through  cannot  possibly  be  injured. 
No  door  should  be  less  than  three  feet  six  inches  wide  and  seven 
feet  high,  and  the  outer  door  is  better  if  made  three  feet  nine  or 
even  four  feet  in  the  clear. 

ALL  STABLE  WINDOWS  should  be  of  iron,  and  if  they  are  cast 
with  iron  bars  six  inches  apart  from  centre  to  centre,  no  horse  will 
break  the  glass/  Every  other  bar  may  be  made  to  project  so  as  to 
form  the  framework  for  the  glass,  and  in  this  way  serve  a  double 
purpose.  In  building  new  stables  I  should  always  prefer  to  place 
the  windows  close  to  the  ceiling  and  above  the  mangers,  so  as  to 
give  the  horse  the  fresh  air  where  he  wants  it.  If  they  are  made 
to  open  in  a  valvular  form,  as  represented  below,  on  the  same  prin- 
ciple as  has  long  been  adopted  in  church  windows,  and  as  I  have 
for  years  recommended  for  lighting  and  ventilating  kennels,  there 
is  no  down  draught,  and  every  advantage  is  obtained  from  the  fresh 
air  without  the  disadvantage  which  ensues  when  it  blows  down 
upon  the  back  or  loins.  In  the  engraving  (a)  represents  the  win- 
dow perfectly  closed,  in  the  state 
admitting  light  but  no  air;  (6) 
shows  the  same  window  opened 
as  far  as  the  framework  will  allow, 
intermediate  degrees  being  regu- 
lated by  the  ratched  rod  (c),  which 
is  fixed  to  the  upper  edge  of  the 
frame,  and  catches  on  the  top  rail 
of  the  sash.  Iron  frames  of  this 
shape  may  be  obtained  by  order 
order  of  any  iron-founder,  or  they 
may  be  made  of  wood.  The  glass 
must  be  guarded  with  bars  either 
fixed  to  the  sashes  themselves  or 
to  the  framework.  It  will  be  seen 
in  the  figure  (5)  that  I  have  indi- 
cated with  an  arrow  the  direction 
which  the  air  inevitably  takes  as 
it  enters  the  stable.  Of  course 

these  windows  may  be  fixed  in  any  wall  other  than  that  at  the 
head  of  the  horse,  but  I  prefer  the  latter  as  being  the  nearest  to 
the  nostrils  where  the  air  is  wanted  for  the  purpose  of  respiration. 


Hi':.'    I   '[_ 


VENTILATING   WINDOWS. 


DRAINAGE. 


1G3 


The  size  should  be  about  two  feet  square.  The  additional  cost  is 
very  trifling  when  it  is  considered  that  no  other  openings  need  be 
provided  for  the  admission  of  air. 

DRAINAGE  AND  WATEK  SUPPLY. 

NEXT  IN  IMPORTANCE  to  the  choice  of  the  situation  and  aspect, 
is  the  method  to  be  adopted  in  draining  the  stable.  The  former 
cannot  well  be  altered,  but  the  latter  may,  and  therefore  I  have 
placed  it  second.  To  ensure  the  perfect  performance  of  the  office 
of  cleansing  the  stable,  the  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  provide  a 
means  of  receiving  the  liquid  which  constantly  must  fall  upon  the 
flooring,  consisting  partly  of  the  urine  of  the  horses,  and  partly 
of  the  water  used  in  keeping  them  clean.  Several  plans  are  adopted 
for  this  purpose,  some  of  which  are  founded  upon  true  principles 
of  economy,  while  others  are  wasteful  in  the  extreme.  In  towns 
and  cities  provided  with  sewers  and  water  pipes,  liquid  manure  is 
seldom  worth  the  cost  of  removing  it,  and  hence  in  them  there  is 
no  choice,  and  the  whole  of  the  liquids  flowing  through  the  drains 
must  pass  off  into  the  common  sewers.  Even  here,  however,  a 
catch  pit  should  be  provided  somewhere  outside  the  stable,  without 
which  the  traps  will  either  become  clogged  if  made  gas-tight,  or 
they  will  admit  the  foul  emanations  from  the  common  sewer  if 
they  are  so  arranged  as  to  allow  of  the  free  flow  of  drainage  from 
the  stable  into  them.  Such  a  pit  as  that  represented  below  will 


SECTION  OP  CATCH  PIT. 


serve  all  the  purposes  required,  and  if  it  is  regularly  cleaned  out 
once  a  week  by  the  groom  there  will  never  be  an  overflow,  while 
in  no  case  can  any  gas  pass  through  it  from  the  sewers.  It  is 
merely  a  square  pit  lined  with  brick  or  stone  and  cemented.  The 
size  must  depend  on  the  number  of  horses,  but  if  made  on  the  cal- 


164  THE  HORSE. 

dilation  of  one  cubical  foot  per  horse  up  to  four  horses,  and  half 
an  additional  foot  for  each  horse  beyond  this  number  it  will  fulfil 
all  the  conditions  required.  The  principle  on  which  it  acts  is  as 
follows :  The  liquid  drainage  enters  from  the  stable  at  (a),  and 
falls  into  the  inner  half  of  the  pit,  marked  (6),  which  is  separated 
from  the  other  half  by  an  iron  partition  (c).  This  is  fixed  above 
in  a  stone  or  iron  lid  (c?),  which,  being  fitted  in  a  frame  at  the  top 
of  the  pit,  effectually  closes  it  except  when  taken  up  by  the 
groom  for  the  purpose  of  removing  the  solid  contents  at  (ft).  The 
sides  of  the  iron  partition  (c)  should  run  in  grooves  cut  in  the  ce- 
ment lining  the  pit,  which  it  should  pretty  accurately  fit,  but  only 
so  as  to  keep  all  solid  matter  from  passing  through.  A  space  of 
from  two  to  four  inches  according  to  the  size  of  the  pit  is  left  be- 
neath the  iron  partition  and  the  bottom  or  floor,  and  through  this 
the  liquid  passes,  filling  the  outer  half  (e)  and  overflowing  through 
the  pipe  (/)  as  fast  as  it  has  run  in  at  (a),  the  same  level  being 
always  maintained  in  the  two  halves  of  the  pit.  With  this  simple 
apparatus  properly  constructed  all  internal  stench  traps  may  be 
done  away  with,  and  the  iron  surface-drains  which  I  shall  pre- 
sently describe  alone  introduced. 

THE  FIRST  THING  in  all  stables  is  to  provide  for  the  rapid  removal 
of  any  fluid  which  falls  upon  the  litter,  whether  it  be  urine  or 
water  used  in  washing  legs  or  floor.  Without  this  damp  arises  and 
the  health  of  the  inmates  suffers  in  proportion.  Foul  gas,  such  as 
is  given  off  from  decomposing  matters  in  sewers,  is  no  doubt  preju- 
dicial, but  damp  is  still  more  so ;  and  while  I  would  be  careful  to 
guard  against  the  former  I  would  still  more  cautiously  attend  to 
the  exclusion  of  the  latter.  Hence  it  is  that  I  would  exclude  all 
internal  traps  j  and  every  one  who  has  watched  the  proceedings  of 
his  own  stablemen  will  have  seen  how  constantly,  if  they  know 
their  business,  they  are  obliged  to  clean  out  the  stench  traps  if 
they  are  furnished  with  them,  or  on  the  contrary  how  slowly  these 
articles  allow  the  fluids  to  pass  off  if  they  are  not  thus  attended  to. 
Even  the  old-fashioned  simple  plan  of  making  the  stalls  to  fall 
rapidly  to  an  open  gutter,  and  carrying  this  straight  behind  the 
horses  through  an  opening  in  the  wall  to  the  manure-hole,  will 
answer  better  than  neglected  stench  traps  ;  and  as  it  is  always  wise 
to  count  upon  the  occasional  carelessness  of  the  men,  it  is  expe- 
dient to  arrange  on  this  basis  if  it  is  practicable,  which  I  know  by 
experience  it  is,  by  the  adoption  of  the  catch-pit  I  have  described. 
In  the  country  such  a  pit  may  be  interposed  between  a  liquid 
manure  tank  and  the  stable,  or  it  may  simply  be  placed  outside, 
taking  care  that  the  drain  (/)  has  some  safety  valve  to  allow  of 
the  escape  of  any  gas  which  is  generated  beyond  it  either  in  the 
liquid  manure  cistern  or  in  the  drain  which  carries  away  its  con- 
tents,  whatever  they  may  be.  No  trap  will  prevent  the  passage  of 


DRAINAGE— WATER  SUPPLY— VENTILATION.  165 

gas  if  the  pressure  is  greater  than  that  of  the  atmosphere,  and  in 
many  cases  decomposing  animal  matter  at  a  high  temperature 
evolves  gas  under  one  considerably  greater.  The  best  stench  trap 
will  then  be  offensive,  but  a  bad  one  choked  with  solid  matter  will 
be  doubly  so.  By  thus  doing  away  with  all  internal  traps,  and 
simply  using  wrought  iron  gutters  of  the  annexed  form,  which  are 


IKON  SURFACE   GUTTER. 

provided  with  moveable  covers,  that  allow  of  their  being  regularly 
cleaned  out  with  a  common  besom,  such  perfect  drainage  may  be 
attained  that  the  stable  neither  smells  badly  nor  feels  at  all  damp. 
It  will  be  seen  that  angular  joints  are  forged  so  as  to  connect  the 
stall  drains  with  those  at  the  backs  of  the  horses,  and  in  this  way 
there  is  no  difficulty  whatever  in  keeping  the  litter  perfectly  dry 
excepting  just  at  the  spot  where  the  urine  or  water  first  falls.  If 
the  drain  at  the  backs  of  the  horses  is  a  very  long  one  it  must  be 
sunk  beneath  the  surface  and  carried  on  by  means  of  glazed 
earthenware  or  iron  pipes,  with  grated  openings  behind  each  horse 
(not  trapped),  but  the  iron  gutters  above  described  are  quite  suffi- 
cient to  provide  for  three  or  four  horses. 

WATER-PIPES,  where  there  is  no  pump,  must  be  laid  in  the 
ground  so  as  to  be  out  of  the  reach  of  frost,  and  should  be  furnished 
with  a  good-sized  cistern  in  or  near  the  saddle-room,  where  it  can 
be  kept  from  freezing.  The  system  of  laying  on  water  pipes  to 
the  mangers,  by  which  they  may  be  readily  filled,  is  a  good  one, 
but  it  costs  money  and  is  by  no  means  necessary.  If  the  iron  sur- 
face drains  which  I  have  described  are  used  no  flushing  is  required, 
a  besom  easily  cleaning  them  out,  but  pipe  drains  are  certainly  the 
better  for  a  good  flushing  now  and  then.  Hard  pump  water  is  not 
so  good  for  drinking  as  soft  or  river  water,  but  in  many  situations 
nothing  else  can  be  obtained.  When  soft  water  is  within  reach  it 
may  easily  be  conducted  into  a  cistern  in  the  saddle-room,  where 
its  temperature  will  be  always  nearly  that  of  the  stable. 

VENTILATION  AND  LIGHTING. 

I  HAVE  ALREADY  entered  to  some  extent  upon  the  best  form  of 
windows  for  stabling,  and  have  shown  how  far  they  may  be  applied 
to  the  purpose  of  supplying  air  from  without.  Sometimes,  how- 
ever, there  are  already  in  the  building  windows  of  the  ordinary 
construction ;  and  in  that  case  it  will  be  necessary  to  introduce 
ventilators,  of  some  shape  or  other,  to  admit  the  external  air.  In 
all  cases,  some  provision  should  be  made  for  preventing  any 


166  THE  HORSE. 

draught  falling  upon  the  horses,  and  for  regulating  the  amount  of 
air.  The  common  round  tube,  with  a  bend  at  a  right  angle 
downwards  on  the  outside  of  the  wall,  is  the  cheapest  form  in  which 
this  can  be  done  ;  but  it  is  very  apt  to  be  rendered  totally  inefficient 
by  being  stuffed  with  hay  in  cold  weather,  and  left  in  this  state 
ever  afterwards.  Several  patents  have  been  lately  taken  out  for 
getting  a  down-draught  by  the  side  of  the  up-draught  tube ;  of 
which  Mr.  Moir's  four-sectioned  plan  is,  perhaps,  the  best.  In 
this  a  large  tube  of  iron  is  made  to  descend  from  the  apex  of  the 
roof  to  the  stable  ceiling ;  and  being  divided  into  four  tubes  by 
iron  plates,  which  rise  above  the  top,  the  wind  always  descends 
through  one  or  two  of  these  tubes  whenever  there  is  the  slightest 
air  moving.  Unfortunately,  however,  it  happens  that  when  it  is 
most  wanted  it  is  totally  inactive — namely,  in  the  hot  calm  days  of 
summer.  Ventilation  is  always  easy  enough  when  there  is  a  wind 
blowing;  and,  indeed,  the  difficulty  then  is  to  moderate  it ;  but  it 
is  when  there  is  no  air  moving  that  stables  become  so  hot  and  close. 
I  have  known  these  down-current  tubes  tried  in  all  sorts  of  places, 
including  stables,  kennels,  work-rooms,  cigar-divans,  &c. ;  but  1 
have  always  found  that,  without  the  power  of  moderating  the  down- 
draught  by  closing-valves  placed  at  the  bottom  of  the  tubes,  they 
are  not  only  useless  in  calm  weather,  but  highly  dangerous  in  a 
wind.  Now,  horses  have  not  the  sense  to  close  valves,  when  a 
wind  rises  in  the  night,  and  grooms  are  absent  from  8  o'clock  P. 
M.  till  6  A.  M.,  during  which  time  a  whole  stableful  of  horses  may 
be  chilled  to  an  alarming  extent.  Hence,  if  adopted,  I  should 
never  venture  to  leave  these  ventilators  open  during  the  night,  and 
this  would  take  away  from  their  efficiency  sufficiently  to  forbid  their 
use.  I  greatly  prefer  the  valvular  window  which  I  have  described 
at  page  162,  for  the  introduction  of  air,  and  a  plain  ventilating 
shaft,  such  as  I  shall  presently  allude  to,  for  carrying  off  the  foul 
air.  Failing  the  window  from  any  cause,  nothing  is  better  than  a 
latticed  ventilator,  which  should  be  fixed  in  the  head  wall,  or  in 
either  of  the  side  walls,  near  the  head. 

HAVING  THUS  PROVIDED  for  the  admission  of  fresh  atmospheric 
air;  the  next  thing  to  do  is  to  carry  it  off,  when  it  has  been  used 
for  the  purposes  of  respiration.  As  I  before  remarked,  it  is  not 
safe  to  depend  upon  the  wind  for  this  purpose  ;  and  the  only  re- 
maining agent  is  the  diminution  in  its  specific  gravity  when  air  is 
warmed  by  respiration.  By  taking  advantage  of  this  principle, 
the  foul  air  is  carried  off  from  the  upper  parts  of  the  stable  if  a 
shaft  is  fixed  there  for  its  passage.  Sometimes  a  small  shaft  is  in- 
troduced over  the  head  of  each  horse;  but  in  practice  it  is  found 
that  one  large  shaft,  about  a  foot  square,  will  purify  a  stable  con- 
taining four  or  five  horses.  It  is  better  to  fix  this  about  the  mid- 
dle of  the  stable,  as  regards  its  length,  but  near  the  heads  of  the 


VENTILATING  SHAFT. 


167 


VENTILATINO  SHAFT. 


horses,  as  shown  in  the  above  section  of  a  stalled  stable.  The  tube 
may  be  made  of  wood — and,  indeed,  this  material  is  better  than 
iron,  because  it  does  not  condense  the  steam  as  it  ascends  nearly 
so  much  as  metal,  and  there  is  less  dropping  of  water  from  it.  The 
upper  end  of  this  shaft  should  be  guarded  from  down-draughts, 
either  by  a  cowl  which  will  turn  with  the  wind,  or  by  a  covered 
ventilator  of  galvanized  iron  fixed  on  the  ridge  of  the  roof,  the 
price  of  which  will  depend  on 
the  size.  At  the  bottom,  a  sheet 
of  iron,  considerably  larger  than 
the  shaft,  should  be  fixed  about 
three  inches  below  the  mouth,  so 
as  to  prevent  any  down-draught 
striking  the  horses }  and  also  to 
catch  any  drip  from  the  conden- 
sation of  the  steam  of  the  stable, 
as  it  comes  in  contact  with  the 
interior  of  the  shaft.  This,  however,  will  be  almost  entirely 
avoided  by  making  the  shaft  of  wood,  as  I  have  already  mentioned. 
Loose  boxes  must  be  ventilated  separately,  if  they  are  not  open  to 
the  stable;  but  if  they  are,  the  same  shaft  will  take  off  their  foul  air 
as  is  used  for  the  stalls,  provided  there  are  not  more  than  four  or 
five  horses  in  the  same  space.  A  shaft  about  six  inches  in  diam- 
eter is  amply  large  enough  for  one  box  ;  and  this,  with  the  venti- 


HEAD   OF    SHAFT. 


168 


THE  HORSE. 


lating  window  or  the  separate  ventilator  I  have  described,  will 
keep  any  box  in  a  healthy  condition,  if  its  drainage  is  properly 
attended  to.  There  is  a  very  common  notion  that  no  ascending 
shaft  will  remove  the  carbonic-acid  gas,  which  is  one  of  the  results 
of  respiration,  because  its  specific  gravity  is  so  great  that  it  lies 
close  to  the  floor.  This,  however,  is  a  fallacy  in  practice,  though 
perfectly  correct  in  theory,  because  all  gases  have  a  tendency  to 
mix  rapidly  together;  and  hence,  although  the  weight  of  pure 
carbonic  acid  gas  is  so  great  that  it  may  be  poured  from  one  glass 
into  another,  yet,  as  it  is  given  gradually  off  by  the  lungs,  it  does 
not  remain  separate,  but  mixes  with  the  bulk  of  air  in  the  stable, 
and  is  carried  off  with  it.  For  this  reason,  there  is  not  the  slightest 
necessity  to  admit  the  fresh  air  near  the  bottom  of  the  stable,  as  is 
sometimes  contended  for.  If  it  is  attempted,  nothing  can  prevent 
a  draught  falling  upon  the  bodies  of  the  horses  when  they  are 
lying  down,  and  they  inevitably  catch  cold.  If  the  upper  regions 
are  kept  pure,  the  whole  air  soon  mixes;  and  thus,  when  the  open- 
ings are  fixed  near  the  ceiling,  as  I  have  described,  all  the  good 
which  is  wanted  from  them  is  obtained  without  any  risk  of  draught. 

STABLE  FITTINGS. 

/ytyvi        THERE   ARE   TWO   MODES  OF 
W'  SEPARATING    stalls    from     each 

other ;  that  most  commonly 
adopted  in  private  stables  being 
the  travis,  whilst  in  cavalry  and 
cab  stables  the  hanging  bail  is 
used  for  the  sake  of  economy 
of  money  and  space.  The  latter 
being  considerably  cheaper  than 
the  former,  I  shall  describe  it  first. 
All  that  is  necessary  is  a  strong 
pole  of  ash,  oak,  or  elm,  which  is 
fixed  about  three  feet  from  the 
ground  between  the  horses,  one 
end  being  attached  to  the  manger 
by  a  strong  iron  hook  and  eye, 
and  the  other  being  either  sus- 
pended from  the  ceiling  by  a 
chain  or  attached  to  a  post,  reach- 
ing from  the  ground  to  the  ceiling 
in  such  a  way  that,  if  the  horse 
gets  fixed  under  or  over  it,  he  can 
readily  be  relieved  by  striking 
upwards  the  ring  (a),  which 
liberates  the  hook  (6)  and  allows 
l-A/^  the  ball  (e)  to  fall  to  the  ground. 


STABLE  FITTINGS.  169 

A  better  plan  is  to  use  a  plank  of  elm  instead  of  a  pole  for  the 
bail,  and  the  difference  of  cost  is  not  very  great.  I  have  myself 
adopted  this  plan  with  advantage  in  a  two-stalled  stable,  which  is 
too  narrow  for  a  travis,  the  whole  width  for  two  horses  being  barely 
ten  feet.  Here,  of  course,  two  stalls  would  be  unsafe,  for  no  horse 
can  be  accommodated  properly  with  less  than  five  feet  six  inches 
from  inside  to  inside  of  stall-posts,  and  this  would  require  eleven 
feet  six  inches,  being  eighteen  inches  more  than  I  had  to  do  with. 
I  find  that  a  plank  of  elm,  one  inch  and  a  half  in  thickness  and 
eighteen  inches  deep,  will  protect  a  horse  very  effectually  from  the 
kicks  of  his  neighbor;  and  as  I  happen  to  have  had  an  inveterate 
kicker  in  one  of  the  stalls  for  six  months,  without  injury  to  her 
fellow,  the  trial  has  been  a  pretty  severe  one.  The  hangings  at 
each  end  are  just  the  same  as  for  bails,  a  chain,  in  my  stable, 
descending  from  the  ceiling,  and  no  tail-post  being  used  on  account 
of  the  propensities  of  the  mare  in  question.  She  would  have  de- 
molished any  fixed  post  behind  her  in  a  single  night;  but  the 
hanging  plank  of  elm  not  being  a  fixture,  gave  way  to  her  blows, 
and  she  soon  left  it  alone.  If  the  horse  is  tied  up  with  one  rein 
only,  he  can  bite  his  neighbor  with  great  facility  over  the  bail, 
but  two  reins  are  just  as  efficient  with  hanging  bails  as  with  a 
travis,  and  these  should  never  be  neglected. 

THE  LENGTH  OF  THE  TRAVIS  should  never  be  less  than  six  feet 
six  inches,  and  if  the  stable  is  fourteen  feet  deep,  which  it  ought  at 
least  to  be,  the  travis  may  be  seven  feet  long  with  advantage.  Be- 
yond this  length  it  should  not  extend  except  in  very  roomy  stables, 
as  there  is  danger  of  straining  the  back  in  turning  out  of  a  nar- 
row gangway  into  the  stall.  No  travis  should  be  less  than  seven 
feet  in  height  at  the  head,  and  four  feet  six,  or  five  feet  at  the 
tail-post.  If  lower  than  this,  the  horses  can  bite  each  other  over 
the  head,  or  kick  over  the  tail,  and  so  become  hung,  from  which 
latter  accident  serious  mischief  may  ensue.  The  tail-post  is  gene- 
rally made  only  to  reach  high  enough  to  take  the  ring  for  the  pil- 
lar reins,  but  it  is  far  firmer  if  carried  to  the  ceiling.  When  the 
stable  is  to  be  built  from  the  ground,  the  tail-posts  may  be  made 
to  economize  wood  in  the  flooring-joists  above,  as  they  diminish 
their  length  by  one-half.  A  moderately  stout  beam,  say  eight 
inches  by  four,  is  carried  from  end  to  end,  and  into  this  the  posts 
are  framed,  while  the  joists,  running  in  the  direction  of  the  stalls, 
are  only  seven  feet  long  each,  for  which  a  very  small  scantling 
will  suffice,  even  if  heavy  weights  of  hay  and  straw  are  placed  in 
the  loft.  This  is  a  great  consideration,  as  the  floor  of  the  loft  re- 
quiring to  be  made  strong,  the  joists,  when  fourteen  or  fifteen  feet 
long,  should  be  at  least  ten  inches  deep.  If  wooden  posts  are  sunk 
into  the  ground,  which  they  must  be  if  short,  they  soon  decay, 
whereas,  when  they  reach  the  ceiling,  as  I  have  advised,  they  may 
lo 


170  THE  HORSE. 

be  dowelled  into  a  stone  rising  above  the  floor,  and  thus  escape 
destruction.  Charring  the  part  buried  is  the  usual  expedient 
adopted  to  prevent  decay,  but  though  it  acts  beneficially  to  some 
extent,  it  does  not  long  put  off  the  decomposition  of  the  woody 
matter  by  the  damp  of  the  floor. 

A  GANGWAY  BAIL  is  sometimes  used  in  stables,  when  valuable 
horses  are  kept  in  stalls,  such  as  hunters  and  race-horses.  It  is 
merely  a  strong  piece  of  oak  which  is  dropped  into  a  mortice  in 
the  stall-post  at  one  end,  and  into  another  made  in  the  wall  oppo- 
site ;  so  that,  if  either  of  the  horses  gets  loose,  he  cannot  reach 
his  neighbors.  It  also  serves  to  prevent  two  horses  from  hanging 
back  and  kicking  at  each  other,  which  vicious  animals  will  some- 
times do. 

THE  MANGERS  AND  RACKS  are  now  almost  invariably  made  of 
the  form,  as  shown  on  p.  172,  whether  of  wood  or  iron  •*  the  addi- 
tion of  a  separate  cavity  for  water,  bran  mashes,  or  gruel,  being  a 
modern  invention.  With  the  single  exception  of  Mr.  Miles,  I  aui 
not  aware  of  any  recent  authority  on  the  subject  who  has  written 
in  favor  of  the  old  high  rack,  and  after  about  fifteen  years'  expe- 
rience of  each  in  my  own  stables,  I  can  confidently  recommend 
the  low  position  for  its  manifold  advantages  both  to  the  horse  and 
his  master.  The  above-named  writer  gives  as  the  reasons  for  his 
preference  of  the  high  rack,  "  that  besides  the  chance  there  is  of 
a  horse  getting  his  feet  into  a  low  rack,  when  he  is  either  frolic- 
some or  alarmed,  it  is  open  to  the  objection  that  he  is  constantly 
hanging  his  head  over  his  food,  and  breathing  on  it  while  he  is 
feeding,  which  renders  the  undermost  portion  of  it  moist  and 
warm,  and  makes  him  reluctant  to  consume  the  whole."  Now  the 
first  of  these  objections  may  be  tenable,  for,  no  doubt,  a  horse  can 
get  his  feet  into  a  low  rack,  but  so  he  can  into  his  manger,  and  as 
this  must  be  placed  low,  no  farther  harm  is  done  in  the  one  case 
than  in  the  other.  Moreover,  the  rack  being  placed  in  the  corner 
is  not  so  likely  to  receive  the  feet  as  the  manger  in  the  middle. 
But,  in  either  case,  if  the  bottom  is  strong  enough  to  bear  the 
weight,  which  it  ought  to  be,  no  mischief  is  done,  and  the  horse 
gets  down  again  when  he  likes.  The  second  objection  I  contend 
to  be  wholly  without  foundation,  and  I  do  this  after  carefully  try- 
ing the  experiment  for  a  month,  with  the  same  four  horses,  tended 
by  the  same  men,  and  doing  the  same  kind  of  work.  It  so  hap- 
pened that  in  the  year  1845  I  required  two  additional  stalls;  and 
at  that  time  having  high  racks  in  my  own  three-stalled  stable,  I 
hired  one  of  two  stalls  close  adjoining.  In  this  I  placed  two  of 
the  three  horses  for  a  month,  and  carefully  weighed  the  hay  which 

*  t.  e.  In  England.     In  this  country  the  high  racks  are  generally  pre- 
ferred.— EDITOR. 


STABLE  FITTINGS.  171 

was  consumed  by  them  during  that  period,  at  the  same  time  weigh- 
ing that  eaten  by  the  other  three  horses  in  the  three-stalled  stable. 
At  the  end  of  the  month  I  changed  the  two  horses  for  two  of  those 
in  the  three- stalled  stable,  and  again  weighed  the  hay  consumed 
by  each.  The  result  was,  in  round  numbers,  a  saving  of  ten 
pounds  of  hay  per  week  per  horse,  and  this  was  done  without  any 
further  limitation  than  the  judgment  of  the  head  groom,  who, 
moreover,  was  prejudiced  in  favor  of  high  racks.  I  immediately 
introduced  low  racks  into  ray  own  stables,  and  have  used  them 
since  with  the  greatest  satisfaction  and  advantage.  Such  is  the 
result  of  my  own  experience,  and  I  find  that  all  those  of  my  ac- 
quaintance who  have  tried  the  low  racks,  are  strongly  impressed 
with  their  advantages,  nor  have  I  ever  known  an  accident  result 
from  them.  The  only  place  where  they  are  dangerous  is  in  the 
loose  box  of  the  brood  mare  with  her  foal,  where  the  latter  may 
damage  itself  by  getting  into  the  manger,  but  against  this  risk  I 
have  cautioned  the  breeder  at  page  122.  In  those  stables  where 
a  long  wooden  manger  is  fixed,  the  alteration  of  a  part  to  form  the 
low  rack  is  easily  accomplished,  and  the  saving  in  hay  will  soon 
pay  for  the  trifling  outlay. 

WITH  REGARD  TO  THE  MATERIAL  of  which  the  racks  and 
mangers  should  be  made,  I  am  not  quite  so  settled  in  my  convic- 
tions. Wood  is  undoubtedly  the  cheapest,  and  it  has  the  advan- 
tage in  its  favor  that  the  horse,  in  laying  hold  of  the  cap  with  his 
teeth,  when  he  is  being  dressed,  which  most  high-couraged  horses 
do,  wears  them  out  much  less  rapidly  than  with  the  iron  manger. 
This  objection  is  met  by  making  the  cap  so  wide  that  the  horse's 
jaw  will  not  embrace  it,  and  with  this  modification  I  have  nothing 
to  allege  against  the  metal  but  its  price, — while  it  has  the  advan- 
tage that  mice  cannot  gnaw  through  it,  and  that  it  does  hot  become 
decomposed  by  remaining  constantly  damp,  which  is  the  case  with 
wood.  The  iron  is  generally  lined  with  enamel,  but  as  I  believe 
that  its  oxide  is  absolutely  advantageous  to  the  health  of  the  horse 
when  taken  into  the  stomach  with  his  food,  I  do  not  care  whether 
this  additional  expense  is  incurred  or  not.  The  enamel  always 
looks  and  is  clean,  which  is  in  its  favor,  but,  as  I  said  before,  this 
is  its  only  real  advantage.  With  these  preliminary  observations, 
I  shall  describe  each,  so  that  in  fitting  up  a  stable  the  proprietor 
may  take  his  choice. 

(1.)  WOODEN  MANGERS  may  be  economically  made  in  part  of 
elm  or  deal,  and  in  part  of  oak,  which  latter  wood  should  always 
be  used  for  the  capping,  on  account  of  the  wear  occasioned  by  the 
teeth,  and  for  the  bottoms,  to  prevent  decay.  The  top  of  the  cap 
should  be  from  3  ft.  3  in.  to  3  ft.  6  in.  from  the  ground,  and  the 
manger  itself  should  be  13  inches  wide  at  the  top  and  9  inches  at 
the  bottom;  depth  11  inches.  The  caps  should  be  4  inches  deep 


172 


THE  HORSE. 


and  3  inches  wide,  and  these  should  be  firmly  wedged  into  the 
wall  or  travis  at  each  end.  The  bottoms  may  be  of  inch  oak,  and 
the  backs,  ends,  and  fronts,  of  inch  elm,  or,  if  deal  is  used,  they 
should  be  a  little  stouter.  Supposing  low  racks  to  be  introduced 
also  of  wood,  they  should  be  2  feet  wide,  and  should  project  5 
inches  beyond  the  manger,  making  them  18  inches  deep  inside. 
An  oak  post  must  be  dropped  into  the  floor  at  the  junction  of  the 
two.  so  as  to  give  strength  at  this  part,  and  the  two  caps  may  be 
strongly  nailed  or  bolted  to  the  top  of  this.  The  rack  is  generally 
made  from  2  ft.  to  2  ft.  3  in.  deep  outside,  which  leaves  a  space 
below  sufficient  to  insure  the  free  passage  of  seeds  and  dust. 

(2.)  IRON  MANGERS  are  made  of  the  same  dimensions  as  the 
above,  but  in  general  the  capping  of  the  rack  is  continuous  with 
that  of  the  manger,  as  shown  in  the  engraving  on  this  page. 
Both  are  five  inches  wide,  to  prevent  the  horse  laying  hold  of  the 
iron  and  thus  wearing  down  his  teeth.  A  water-tank  occupies 
one  end  of  the  space  at  the  head  of  the  stall,  the  manger  the 
middle,  and  the  rack  the  other  end, — the  two  former  being 
generally  enamelled  inside.  The  addition  of  the  tank  is  in  favor 
of  iron  as  a  material ;  for  water  remaining  in  wood  soon  rots  it, 
and  hence  even  if  wooden  mangers  are  preferred,  the  tank,  if 
adopted,  must  be  of  iron. 

THE  ONLY  REMAINING  FITTING  yet  to  be  described  is  the  enam- 
elled tile,  which  is  now  very  generally  introduced  in  first-class 
stables  at  the  heads  of  the  stall  above  the  mangers.  I  cannot  say 
that  I  see  any  great  advantage  in  them,  as  a  coat  of  sound  Roman 
cement  will  be  as  impervious  to  all  kinds  of  diseased  secretions  as 
the  best  enamel, — that  is  to  say,  when  each  is  washed.  Neverthe- 
less, I  have  shown  these  tiles  in  the  annexed  engraving  of  a  couple 


IRON   FITTINGS   FOR   STALLS   AND   LOOSE   BOX. 


of  stalls  and  a  loose  box,  which  is  taken  from  the  pattern  plan  ex- 
hibited at  the  St.  Pancras  Iron  works.     Here  all  the  iron  fittings 


HARNESS-ROOM.  178 

which  I  have  already  described  are  introduced,  and  my  reader  may 
judge  for  himself  of  their  appearance,  which  is  certainly,  in  my 
opinion,  extremely  neat  and  well  adapted  to  the  requirements  of 
the  horse.  The  stalls  show  the  iron  manger,  rack,  and  trough,  as 
described  at  page  170.  The  floor  is  laid  with  blue  paviors,  cut  to 
fit  the  wrought-iron  gutters  alluded  to  at  page  165.  The  loose  box 
is  lined  with  inch  deal,  and  the  partition  from  the  stalls  is  of  open 
iron-work.  This  also  shows  the  corner  manger-rack  and  trough 
suitable  for  a  loose  box.  The  only  objection  that  I  know  to  these 
very  complete  fittings  is  on  the  score  of  expense. 

I  HAVE  ALREADY  SAID  that  I  object  to  corn  and  chaff-shoots 
arranged  so  as  to  open  into  the  manger,  on  account  of  the  dust  which 
they  bring  down.  If  the  corn  and  chaff  are  kept  upstairs,  a  shoot 
may  be  arranged  so  as  to  deliver  them  at  or  near  the  gangway,  the 
particular  spot  chosen  depending  on  circumstances  which  will  vary 
with  almost  every  stable.  A  granary,  or  corn-room,  on  the  ground 
floor,  does  not  admit  of  a  shoot. 

THE  AVALLS  of  a  stable  should  be  lined,  whenever  they  come  in 
contact  with  the  horse,  with  inch  elm  or  deal.  Without  this,  in 
cold  weather,  the  brick  or  stone,  whether  plastered  or  not,  is  too 
cold,  and  if  a  delicate  horse  lies  down  with  his  loins  against  it,  he 
will  probably  be  attacked  with  rheumatism,  or  perhaps  with  in- 
flammation of  the  kidneys.  Usually,  also,  as  I  have  already  ob- 
served at  page  172,  the  head  wall  above  the  manger  is  lined  either 
with  boards  or  enamelled  plates,  which  have  lately  been  introduced 
as  being  cleaner  than  boards,  as  they  undoubtedly  are.  They  are 
either  of  enamelled  iron,  nailed  on  to  boarding,  or  of  vitrified  plates 
set  in  cement,  the  latter  being  cheaper  and  having  nearly  the  same 
appearance. 

HARNESS-ROOM. 

EVERY  HARNESS-ROOM  should  be  provided  either  with  a  stove  or 
open  fireplace,  in  order  to  dry  the  saddles,  harness,  and  clothing,  when 
they  come  in  wet.  If,  also,  it  can  be  so  arranged  that  a  supply  of 
hot  water  can  be  obtained,  by  fitting  a  boiler  to  the  back  of  the 
fire,  the  groom  will  be  always  provided  with  what  he  must  occa- 
sionally obtain  from  some  source  or  other.  No  establishment  can 
be  considered  complete  which  does  not  provide  plenty  of  hot  water 
when  wanted ;  and  if  it  is  heated  in  the  saddle-room,  so  much  the 
better. 

WHEN  THE  SADDLES  AND  HARNESS  are  cleaned,  they  must  be 
put  away  till  wanted;  and  here  they  must  be  protected  from  injury, 
either  in  the  shape  of  scratches,  damp,  or  dust.  Harness  and 
saddle  brackets  are  made  either  of  wood  or  iron ;  the  former  being 
the  cheaper,  but  the  surface  they  present  being  necessarily  larger, 
they  do  not  allow  the  stuifing  to  dry  so  well  as  iron  brackets,  which 
are  made  to  turn  up  and  form  a  hook  below,  on  which  bridles  may 
15* 


174  THE  HORSE. 

be  hung.  This  is  a  capital  plan  where  space  is  scanty,  but  other- 
wise it  is  not  to  be  recommended.  Where  a  long  cupboard  can  be 
separated  off  by  hanging  doors,  either  of  glass  or  panel,  the  har- 
ness and  saddlery  can  be  kept  in  very  nice  order ;  and  even  a  cur- 
tain of  cloth  or  canvas  will  serve  a  similar  purpose,  when  drawn 
across  in  front  of  them.  In  addition  to  the  brackets,  bridle  hooks, 
either  single  or  double,  must  be  attached  to  the  walls,  to  hang  the 
bridles,  stirrup  leathers,  &c.,to.  Masters  who  are  particular  about 
their  stable  arrangements  have  many  other  fittings,  such  as  wheels 
for  whip-lashes  to  hang  over,  &c.  £c.j  but  those  which  I  have 
enumerated  are  the  essentials  for  a  harness-room  intended  for  use 
rather  than  show.  A  double  hook  suspended  from  the  ceiling, 
where  it  can  be  used  to  hang  dirty  harness  on  while  washing  it,  is 
extremely  useful;  but  any  groom  who  understands  his  business 
will  suggest  something  of  the  kind,  according  to  circumstances. 

COACH  HOUSE. 

IN  THE  COACH  HOUSE  mere  standing  room  is  all  that  is  neces- 
sary to  provide  if  the  harness-room  stove  is  made  to  answer  the 
double  purpose  of  airing  both,  which  should  always  be  managed. 
Open  carriages  may  be  kept  in  tolerably  good  order  without  any 
stove,  but  the  lining  of  close  carriages  soon  becomes  mouldy  unless 
heat  in  some  form  or  other  be  applied. 

SERVANTS'  ROOMS. 

LITTLE  NEED  BE  HERE  SAID  of  the  servants'  rooms,  but  I  cer- 
tainly agree  with  Mr.  Miles  in  his  objection  to  placing  them  over 
the  horses.  Quiet  is  essential  to  the  sleep  of  these  animals,  and  if 
grooms  are  to  be  walking  over  head  at  all  hours  their  sleep  must 
necessarily  be  disturbed.  It  is  always  well  to  have  a  groom's  room 
within  hearing  of  his  horses,  so  that  if  any  of  them  get  cast,  or  are 
taken  ill.  he  may  be  able  at  once  to  go  to  their  assistance,  but  this 
can  readily  be  done  without  placing  any  lodging  rooms  over  the 
stalls  or  boxes. 

GROUND  PLANS  OF  STABLES. 

IN  DECIDING  ON  THE  BEST  ground  plan  for  stabling  a  great  deal 
must  always  depend  upon  the  kind  and  number  of  horses  to  be 
placed  in  it.  In  the  following  plans  I  shall  consider  the  two  ex- 
tremes afforded  by  those  for  racehorses  or  hunters  on  the  one  hand, 
and  on  the  other  by  the  hack  or  harness  stable  for  two  or  three 
horses  where  space  is  a  great  object.  As  a  general  rule  racehorses 
and  hunters  require  a  loose  box  each,  because  they  are  often 
greatly  distressed,  and  must  then  have  entire  rest  and  quiet  to 
enable  them  to  recover  themselves.  They  are  also  a  great  many 
hours  together  in  the  stable,  and  being  called  upon  for  great  exer- 
tions when  out  they  ought  to  have  plenty  of  air  when  indoors 


GROUND  PLAN  OF  STABLE. 


175 


The  best  proportions  for  their  boxes  are  sixteen  to  eighteen  feet 
long  by  twelve  feet  wide  and  nine  or  ten  high,  but  these  are  per- 
haps a  little  above  the  average.  Nevertheless  I  have  given  these 
in  the  annexed  plan  of  a 


C  OVE  RED         RIDE 
OPEN    IN    THE   MIDDLE 


RACING  OB  HUNTING   STAB1E. 


It  is  divided  into  four  separate  stables  thirty-six  feet  long  and  eigh- 
teen wide,  in  which  three  or  even  four  loose  boxes  may  be  separated 
by  partitions  nine  feet  high  with  open  iron  tops,  as  shown  at  page 
172,  or  one  or  more  may  be  divided  by  travises  into  six  stalls  each 
six  feet  wide.  I  have  already  alluded  to  the  fittings  for  each,  and 
therefore  I  need  say  nothing  more  here  beyond  alluding  to  the 
plan  itself.* 

*  The  plan  on  the  ensuing  page,  of  a  stable  belonging  to  Mr.  Samuel  R. 
Phillips,  of  Philadelphia,  was  selected  after  a  careful  examination,  as 
being  unusually  well  arranged  for  four  or  five  horses.  It  has  now  accom- 
modations for  five  horses,  but  it  could  be  made  very  convenient  for  four 
by  taking  out  the  partition  between  the  fourth  and  fifth  stalls,  thus  making 
three  stalls  and  a  loose  box. — EDITOR. 


176 


THE  HORSE. 


w 


w 


A 
•o 

A 

=0 

A 
o 
A 


D 


PLAN    OF    STABLE    FOR   FOUR   OR   FIVE    HORSES. 


A  Stalls. 

B  Hay-Rack. 

C  Carriage  House. 

D  Doors. 

E  Closet  for  harness,  with  glass  doors. 


F  Stairs  to  the  Hay  Loft,  <fcc. 

G  Manger. 

H  Stench  Trap. 

W  Windows. 


NECESSITY  FOE  AIRING  NEW  STABLES. 

To  PUT  HORSES  INTO  NEW  STABLES  without  airing  them  is  to 
give  them  cold  or  rheumatism.  Indeed  those  which  have  been 
merely  uninhabited  for  some  months  are  not  fit  for  horses  that  are 
accustomed  to  be  kept  warm  and  dry,  without  taking  the  following 
precautions.  If  the  walls  are  very  new  some  open  stoves  should 
be  kept  burning  for  at  least  a  week,  not  with  the  windows  and  doors 
shut,  as  is  often  done,  but  with  a  good  current  of  air  blowing 
through  the  whole  building.  In  the  absence  of  regular  stoves 
loose  bricks  may  be  built  up  so  as  to  allow  a  good  draught  of  air 
through  the  coals  or  wood  burnt  in  them,  and  thus  to  give  out  as 
much  heat  as  is  wanted.  For  stables  that  have  merely  been  closed 
for  a  month  or  two  a  fire  kindled  on  the  floor  and  kept  burning  for 
a  few  hours  will  suffice,  but  when  the  horses  are  first  brought  in, 
their  beds  should  previously  be  made  up  ready  for  them,  and  then 
the  doors,  windows  and  other  ventilators  should  all  be  shut  till  the 
stable  becomes  thoroughly  warmed  by  the  natural  heat  of  their 
bodies,  which  it  soon  is  When  this  is  accomplished,  if  the  wea- 


FEEDING.  177 

ther  is  warm,  the  ventilators  should  be  opened  as  usual,  and  the 
windows  also  if  necessary;  but  it  is  better  to  err  on  the  safe  side, 
and  not  to  do  this  till  the  groom  is  perfectly  satisfied  that  his 
charge  are  all  comfortably  warm. 


CHAPTER  XI. 
STABLE    MANAGEMENT. 

Theory  and  Practice  of  Feeding  and  Watering — Dressing  or  Groom- 
ing— Clipping,  Singeing,  and  Trimming — Use  and  Application 
of  Bandages — Management  oj  the  Feet — Daily  Exercise — Pro- 
per Temperature — Remedies  jfor  Stable  Vices  and  Bad  Habits — 
Preparation  for  Work — Ordinary  Sweating — The  Turkish 
Bath — Physic — Final  Preparation — Treatment  after  Work — 
Summering — Care  of  Saddlery  and  Harness. 

IN  THE  FOLLOWING  PAGES,  my  attention  will  be  specially  di- 
rected to  the  management  of  private  stables ;  and  therefore  the 
race-horse,  the  omnibus  and  cab  horse,  and  the  poster,  will  not  pass 
under  review.  Those  who  are  engaged  in  their  superintendence 
make  it  their  business  to  ascertain  what  is  best  to  be  done ;  and, 
whether  they  do  or  not,  each  of  them  fancies  that  he  knows  better 
than  any  one  else  how  to  effect  his  object. 

THE  THEORY  AND  PRACTICE  OF  FEEDING  AND  DRINK. 

IN  ADAPTING  the  quantity  and  quality  of  horse-keep  to  the  wants 
of  each  horse,  regard  must  be  paid  first  of  all  to  the  small  size 
of  this  animal's  stomach,  which  affects  all  alike ;  secondly,  to 
the  work  for  which  he  is  designed;  and  thirdly,  to  the  peculiar 
constitution  of  each  individual.  From  the  first  of  these  causes  the 
horse  must  never  be  allowed  to  fast  for  any  long  period  if  it  can 
possibly  be  avoided,  it  being  found  from  experience  that  at  the  end 
of  four  hours  his  stomach  is  empty,  and  the  whole  frame  becomes 
exhausted,  while  the  appetite  is  frequently  so  impaired  if  he  is 
kept  fasting  for  a  longer  period  that  when  food  is  presented  to  him 
it  will  not  be  taken.  Previously  to  the  introduction  of  railroads 
harness-horses  were  often  required  to  do  long  distances  in  the  day, 
and  it  was  found  that  if  the  whole  journey  must  be  performed 
without  stopping  to  bait,  it  exhausted  the  horse  less  to  increase 
the  pace  up  to  nine  or  ten  miles  an  hour  than  to  dawdle  over  the 
ground  on  an  empty  stomach.  If  two  horses  are  driven  or  ridden 
fifty  or  sixty  miles  under  similar  conditions  as  to  the  weight  they 
have  to  draw  or  carry,  and  the  one  is  taken  at  the  rate  of  six  miles 

M 


178  THE  HORSE. 

au  hour,  which  will  keep  him  fasting  from  eight  and  a  half  to  ten 
hours  according  to  the  distance,  while  the  other  is  travelled  fast 
enough  to  do  it  in  six  or  seven  hours,  the  latter  will  be  less  ex- 
hausted than  the  former,  though  even  he  would  be  all  the  better 
for  a  feed  in  the  middle  of  the  journey,  the  time  devoted  to  this 
act  being  easily  picked  up  by  the  increased  energy  which  would 
be  given  by  the  corn.  No  horseman  of  experience  is  ignorant  of 
these  facts,  and  after  a  long  day  the  hunting  man  who  knows  what 
he  is  about  will  always  be  seen  on  the  look  out  for  a  feed  of  corn 
or  a  pint  of  oatmeal  for  his  hunter,  before  he  attends  to  his  own 
wants.  The  human  stomach  will  bear  hunger  far  better  than  that 
of  the  horse,  and  if  the  rider  feels  his  appetite  pretty  keen,  he  may 
be  satisfied  that  the  animal  which  carries  him  is  still  more  in  want 
of  food.  The  kind  of  work  which  the  horse  is  intended  for  affects 
not  only  the  quantity  of  food  required,  but  also  its  quality.  Thus 
very  fast  work,  as  in  racing  and  hunting,  strains  the  muscular 
system  as  well  as  the  heart  and  lungs  to  the  utmost,  and  therefore 
the  food  which  is  best  fitted  for  the  development  of  the  former  to 
the  highest  degree  consists  of  those  kinds  which  present  the  ele- 
ments contained  in  the  muscular  tissue  in  the  largest  proportions 
consistent  with  the  due  performance  of  the  digestive  powers.  These 
are  found  in  oats  and  beans,  but  nature  herself  teaches  every  ani- 
mal instinctively  to  keep  within  such  limits  as  are  safe,  and  hence 
it  is  found  that  though  every  horse  will  greedily  devour  a  peck  or 
a  peck  and  a  half  of  corn  daily,  yet  he  will  not  go  beyond  this 
quantity  even  though  it  is  not  sufficient  for  his  wants,  and  in  spite 
of  his  being  deprived  of  every  other  kind  of  food.  The  demands 
of  his  muscular  system  are  supplied  by  the  corn,  but  there  are 
certain  saline  matters  in  hay  which  are  not  found  in  the  former, 
and  being  necessary  for  the  performance  of  several  important  func- 
tions the  stomach  receives  its  warning  through  the  appetite  and 
-no  more  corn  is  received  into  it.  On  the  other  hand,  the  hard- 
worked  horse  fed  on  hay  alone  craves  for  corn,  and  will  greedily 
devour  almost  any  quantity  put  in  his  manger  until  he  upsets  his 
digestive  powers,  when  the  appetite  for  it  ceases.  It  is  found  by 
experience  that  a  certain  proportion  of  hay  and  corn  is  best  adapted 
to  each  horse  according  to  the  work  he  has  to  do,  and  his  own  par- 
ticular constitution,  so  that  in  laying  down  rules  for  feeding  it  is 
necessary  first  of  all  to  ascertain  what  demands  will  be  likely  to  be 
made  upon  the  system.  Few  owners  of  carriage-horses  would  like 
to  see  them  driven  to  the  door  with  their  muscles  showing  the 
lines  between  them  as  they  ought  to  do  in  a  race-horse  when  fit  to 
run.  Such  a  state  of  high  training  as  will  put  the  latter  in  con- 
dition would  be  impracticable  for  the  former  without  wearing  his 
legs  out,  and  not  only  destroying  his  rounded  and  level  appearance 
but  taking  away  the  air  of  high  spirit  and  life  which  tends  so 


FEEDING.  179 

much  to  gratify  the  eye.  Hence  the  feeding  suited  to  give  the 
one  nothing  but  muscle  is  not  fitted  for  the  other,  who  must  have 
more  hay  and  less  oats,  as  well  as  less  work.  So  also  in  deciding 
upon  the  proportion,  if  any,  of  oats  and  heans,  regard  must  be  had 
to  the  amount  of  work  which  is  demanded,  for  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  while  admitting  the  good  effects  of  beans  in  large  quan- 
tities upon  the  severely  tried  cab  or  omnibus  horse,  they  are  inju- 
rious to  the  carriage-horse,  whose  blood  soon  becomes  heated  under 
their  constant  use.  Lastly,  the  peculiar  constitution  of  each  horse 
must  be  studied  before  it  can  be  known  whether  the  average  quan- 
tity and  quality  of  food  which  will  suit  the  majority  of  horses 
doing  the  same  kind  of  work,  will  be  enough  or  too  much  for  him. 
Some  washy  animals  pass  their  food  through  them  so  quickly  that 
they  do  not  absorb  from  it  one-half  of  the  nutritive  elements  con- 
tained in  it.  These  must  be  fed  largely  if  they  are  kept  at  work, 
and  those  articles  of  food  must  be  selected  for  them  which  have  a 
tendency  rather  to  confine  the  bowels  than  to  relax  them.  Inde- 
pendently of  this  extreme  case  it  never  can  with  certainty  be  pro- 
nounced beforehand  what  amount  of  food  will  keep  an  untried 
horse  in  condition,  but  in  a  large  stable  an  average  can  easily  be 
struck,  and  it  is  this  quantity  alone  which  can  be  estimated  here. 
The  blood  of  a  horse  fed  on  highly  nitrogenized  food  does  not  differ 
on  analysis  from  that  of  another  which  has  been  kept  on  the  oppo- 
site kind  of  diet.  Physiological  research,  however,  tells  us  that 
muscle  is  chiefly  composed  of  fibrine,  and  that  every  time  a  bundle 
of  its  fibres  contracts  a  certain  expenditure  of  this  material  is  made, 
calling  for  a  corresponding  supply  from  the  blood,  which  cannot 
be  afforded  unless  the  food  contains  it.  Hence  the  badly  fed  horse 
if  worked  soon  loses  his  flesh,  and  not  only  becomes  free  from  fat, 
but  also  presents  a  contracted  condition  of  all  his  muscles.  And 
thus  science  is  confirmed  by  every-day  experience,  and  the  fact  is 
generally  admitted  that  to  increase  the  muscular  powers  of  a  horse 
he  must  have  a  sufficient  supply  of  nitrogenized  food.  As  I  have 
remarked  above,  the  nutrition  of  muscle  requires  fibrine — but  in 
addition  the  brain  and  nerves  must  be  supplied  with  fatty  matter, 
phosphorus,  and  albumen.  The  bones  demand  gelatine  and  earthy 
salts,  and  the  maintenance  of  heat  cannot  be  effected  without  car- 
bon in  some  shape  or  other.  But  it  is  chiefly  with  nitrogenized 
food  that  we  have  to  deal  in  considering  the  present  question, 
there  being  plenty  of  the  other  substances  I  have  mentioned  in  all 
the  varieties  of  food  which  are  not  largely  composed  of  fibrine.  It 
may  therefore  be  taken  for  granted  that  the  hardly  worked  horse 
requires  oats  or  beans,  or  both  mixed  together  in  varying  propor- 
tions, together  with  such  an  amount  of  hay  as  will  supply  him  with 
the  starch,  gum,  sugar,  fat,  and  saline  matters  which  his  system 
requires,  while  on  the  other  hand  the  idle  animal  dees  not  use  his 


180  THE  HORSE. 

muscular  system  to  any  extent,  and  therefore  does  not  require  much 
or  any  oats  or  beans. 

SALT  is  the  only  kind  of  seasoning  which  has  stood  the  test  of 
experience  in  this  country,  and  even  it  is  by  no  means  generally 
employed.  Some  grooms  give  an  ounce  of  common  salt  in  the 
water  daily,  others  give  *it  by  sprinkling  it  on  the  hay,  while  a 
third  set  leave  a  lump  of  rock  salt  constantly  in  the  manger  for 
the  horse  to  lick.  The  last  is  the  only  really  safe  and  useful  mode 
of  using  this  article,  and  I  am  persuaded  that  all  horses  will  thrive 
better  if  they  are  allowed  a  lump  of  rock  salt  constantly  within 
their  reach.  The  quantity  which  is  thus  taken  is  by  no  means 
large,  for  rock  salt  does  not  easily  dissolve  by  the  mere  contact  of 
the  moist  tongue.  A  lump  weighing  two  or  three  pounds  is  placed 
in  the  manger,  and  it  will  generally  be  found  that  a  pound  will 
last  nearly  a  month,  but  there  is  a  great  variation  in  the  quantity 
consumed  by  different  horses. 

THE  WATER  which  is  given  to  the  horse  will  materially  affect 
his  condition  if  it  is  not  suitable  to  him  in  quality  or  quantity,  or 
if  he  is  allowed  to  take  it  when  heated  by  work.  Thirst  is  most 
distressing  to  this  animal,  and  if  he  has  not  his  water  regularly 
when  his  stomach  demands  it,  he  will  not  only  refuse  his  solid 
food,  but  he  will  drink  inordinately  when  he  has  the  opportunity, 
causing  colic  or  founder  to  supervene.  For  this  reason  it  has 
lately  been  the  fashion  to  provide  iron  tanks  on  a  level  with  the 
manger,  which  are  intended  to  be  kept  constantly  full,  and  indeed 
some  are  arranged  with  cisterns  and  ball-cocks  for  that  purpose. 
But  those  who  contend  for  this  constant  supply  have  overlooked 
the  fact  that  every  horse  when  he  first  comes  into  the  stable  is 
unfit  to  be  allowed  to  "  take  his  fill"  of  water,  and  yet  he  will  be 
sure  to  do  so  if  the  water  tank  is  open  to  him.  Undoubtedly  for 
horses  which  are  never  heated  by  work  the  tank  is  perfectly  safe, 
because  as  they  never  become  thirsty,  since  they  prevent  the  full 
development  of  the  appetite  by  drinking  small  quantities  as  it 
arises,  so  they  are  never  induced  to  do  themselves  an  injury  by 
imbibing  large  quantities  of  water  at  any  time.  On  the  other 
hand,  working  horses  are  kept  out  of  the  stable  without  water  for 
five  or  six  hours  on  the  average ,  and  when  they  come  in  they  are 
not  only  very  thirsty,  but  they  are  generally  in  a  state  in  which  a 
full  draught  of  fluid  will  seriously  injure  them.  For  this  reason 
I  think  the  tank  unsuited  to  the  ordinary  private  stable,  though 
of  course  it  is  easy  to  prevent  mischief  by  taking  care  either  to 
have  a  cover  over  it,  which  is  kept  down  till  the  horse  is  cool,  or 
to  let  off  the  water  for  a  similar  period.  The  question  is  one  in- 
volving a  choice  of  evils  incidental  to  carelessness,  and  it  is  doubt- 
ful whether  in  the  long  run  the  horse  is  more  likely  to  be  injured 
by  being  allowed  to  fill  himself  with  water  at  the  time  I  have 


WATER.  181 

alluded  to,  or  by  being  deprived  of  his  proper  allowance  of  it  at 
regular  intervals.  Nothing  is  more  easy  for  the  master  to  detect, 
when  he  visits  his  stable  (as  he  should  do  at  uncertain  hours), 
than  a  state  of  thirst.  Few  horses  are  allowed  as  much  corn  as 
they  will  eat,  and  the  rattling  of  the  sieve  or  bin  will  make  every 
occupant  of  a  stall  place  himself  in  an  attitude  of  expectation. 
But  if  the  lifting  of  a  bucket  produces  the  same  eager  look,  and 
especially  at  any  hour  but  the  usual  time  of  watering,  it  may  at 
once  be  concluded  that  the  horse  is  not  regularly  and  sufficiently 
supplied  with  fluid,  and  it  will  generally  be  found  that  his  condi- 
tion suffers  accordingly.  It  is  astonishing  how  little  water  will 
suffice  if  it  is  given  at  regular  intervals,  and  it  is  the  neglect  of 
this  periodical  supply  which  produces  the  craving  that  leads  to 
dangerous  repletion.  If  it  is  decided  to  adopt  the  tank,  provision 
should  also  be  made  for  emptying  it  readily,  without  calling  upon 
the  groom  to  bale  it  out  with  a  teacup,  which  I  have  actually  seen 
done  in  one  particular  stable,  the  owner  of  which  prided  himself 
on  the  perfection  of  his  arrangements.  If  the  water  only  came 
into  contact  with  the  iron,  no  great  harm  would  ensue,  because 
the  oxyde  formed  by  the  union  of  the  oxygen  in  the  water  with 
the  metal  itself,  in  the  shape  of  common  rust,  is  by  no  means  pre- 
judicial to  health.  But  no  iron  manger  containing  water  will  long 
remain  free  from  decomposing  vegetable  matter,  unless  it  is  regu- 
larly scrubbed  out  daily,  because  the  horse,  as  he  holds  his  head 
over  it  during  his  feeding,  drops  particles  of  hay,  corn,  &c.,  into 
the  water,  and  this  being  raised  in  temperature  to  that  of  the  sta- 
ble, soon  dissolves  the  starch  and  other  ingredients  which  are 
prone  to  decomposition.  The  consequence  is  that  the  sides  of  the 
tank  become  foul,  being  covered  with  a  thick  slime,  which  not 
only  renders  the  water  nauseous  to  the  horse,  but  also  makes  it 
prejudicial  to  his  health.  For  this  reason  a  waste-pipe  and  stop- 
cock are  absolutely  essential,  for  by  their  aid  alone  can  the  groom 
be  expected  to  do  his  duty. 

THE  QUANTITY  OF  WATER  which  will  be  imbibed  by  horses 
varies  even  more  than  that  of  their  solid  food,  yet  ignorant  grooms 
are  too  apt  to  give  all  alike.  The  most  strenuous  advocate  for  the 
continuous  supply  would  doubtless  make  an  exception  at  those 
times  when  horses  are  just  about  to  be  severely  galloped,  as  in 
hunting  or  racing ;  and  on  the  other  hand,  almost  all  grooms  who 
know  their  business  allow  their  charge  to  fill  themselves  at  night, 
and  also  give  them  a  liberal  allowance  when  they  have  done  their 
work  and  are  dressed  and  cooled  down  after  it.  I  have  found  in 
my  own  stable,  in  measuring  the  actual  quantity  of  water  drunk 
by  the  horses,  that  even  among  those  which  are  doing  the  same 
amount  of  work  and  eating  similar  food  both  in  quantity  and 
quality,  the  water  will  vary  from  two  buckets  a  day  to  nearly  five. 
It) 


182  THE  HORSE. 

If  salt  is  given,  it  will  produce  considerable  thirst  at  first,  but 
after  a  time  this  effect  ceases,  and  I  have  not  found  it  in  the  long 
run  make  much  difference.  Green  food  will  also  make  less  altera- 
tion in  the  desire  for  water  than  might  be  expected,  which  may 
be  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  it  increases  the  secretions  of 
urine  and  perspiration,  and  also  acts  gently  on  the  bowels;  so 
that,  Chough  more  fluid  is  taken  into  the  system  with  the  green 
food,  yet  a  proportionably  large  quantity  passes  off.  It  is,  how- 
ever, necessary  to  be  cautious  in  the  allowance  of  water  to  horses 
which  have  just  begun  to  eat  grass,  for  if  given  in  the  usual  quan- 
tity on  a  stomach  full  of  green  food,  it  will  very  probably  bring 
on  an  attack  of  colic.  As  a  rule,  no  horse  should  go  to  any 
moderately  fast  work  with  more  than  half  a  bucket  of  water  in 
him,  and  that  should  have  been  swallowed  at  least  an  hour.  This 
subject,  however,  will  be  better  considered  under  the  next  head. 

THE  QUALITY  OF  WATER  best  suited  to  the  horse  is  one  mode- 
rately soft,  but  it  should  not  be  rain  water  collected  in  tanks, 
which  soon  becomes  full  of  decomposing  vegetable  matter.  I  have 
known  the  health  of  a  whole  stable  full  of  horses  seriously  injured 
by  using  rain  water,  as  was  proved  by  the  fact  that  its  filtration 
through  charcoal,  gravel,  and  sand  soon  restored  the  animals  to  a 
fair  state  of  health,  without  any  alteration  in  their  solid  food  or 
work.  On  the  other  hand,  very  hard  water  disagrees  almost  to 
an  equal  extent,  often  producing  the  state  of  the  skin  known  as 
"  hide-bound,"  and  sometimes  affecting  the  bowels  in  the  form  of 
serious  diarrho3a.  But  in  course  of  time  most  sound  horses  be- 
come accustomed  to  hard  water,  and  then  a  change  to  that  which 
is  soft  must  be  carefully  avoided  whenever  work  is  to  be  demanded 
of  them.  Thus  in  sending  hunters  or  harness-horses  used  in  fast 
work  from  home,  when  they  have  been  accustomed  to  either  kind 
of  water,  it  often  happens  that  their  health  is  upset,  and  this  is 
quite  as  likely  to  occur  when  the  change  is  from  hard  to  soft,  as 
from  soft  to  hard  water.  Trainers  of  valuable  race-horses  are  so 
aware  of  this  fact,  that  irrespective  of  the  risk  of  poisoning,  which 
they  thereby  avoid,  they  take  water  with  them,  knowing  the  inju- 
rious effects  likely  to  be  produced  by  a  sudden  change. 

THE  PROPER  TEMPERATURE  OF  THE  WATER  given  in  the  stable 
is  a  matter  of  serious  importance,  and  the  effect  of  a  bucketful  of 
cold  water  to  a  horse  just  come  in  from  his  work  is  very  serious. 
Even  in  a  state  of  rest  cold  water  will  often  produce  cramp  or  colic, 
so  that  careful  grooms  never  give  it  by  any  chance  without  warm- 
ing it,  either  by  the  addition  of  a  little  hot  water,  called  "  chilling" 
it,  or  by  letting  it  stand  for  some  hours  in  the  stable  or  saddle- 
room.  If  the  former  method  is  adopted,  it  should  not  be  made  to 
feel  actually  warm,  for  in  that  state  it  nauseates  a  delicate  feeder. 


DRESSING,  OR  GROOMING.  1^3 

but  it  should  merely  have  the  chill  taken  off,  so  that  in  dipping 
the  hand  into  it,  no  sensation  of  cold  is  produced. 

DRESSING,  OR  GROOMING. 

BY  THE  TERM  DRESSING  is  generally  understood  the  purifica- 
tion of  the  skin,  which  the  horse  requires.  He  is  never  in  the 
highest  health  unless  the  pores  are  kept  free  from  the  scurf  which 
forms  on  them  whenever  he  sweats,  and  the  object  of  the  strapping 
which  he  receives  at  the  hands  of  his  groom  is  to  get  rid  of  this 
mechanical  obstruction,  as  well  as  to  brace  the  nerves  of  the  sur- 
face by  the  friction  of  the  brush  or  whisp.  This  dressing  must  be 
renewed  daily,  even  if  the  horse  has  not  been  sweated,  and  each 
time  that  he  comes  in  from  work  it  is  necessary  to  repeat  it.  The 
former  operation  is  or  should  be  conducted  in  the  same  manner 
every  day,  but  the  latter  will  vary  according  to  the  state  of  the 
animal  when  he  comes  in,  that  is  to  say,  depending  upon  whether 
he  has  been  sweated  and  is  cool  again,  or  if  he  is  still  wet,  or  has 
been  in  the  rain  with  or  without  exercise  enough  to  warm  him,  or 
lastly,  if  he  has  been  ridden  or  driven  through  dirty  roads  or  over 
a  deep  country.  Each  of  these  conditions  will  therefore  require  a 
separate  consideration. 

THE  USUAL  MORNING'S  DRESSING  is  commenced  either  as  soon 
as  the  horse  has  done  his  early  feed,  or  on  coming  in  from  exer- 
cise, if  such  is  allowed  or  enjoyed.  The  utility  of  grooming  after 
work  cannot  be  denied,  for  it  would  be  absurd  to  contend  that  a 
horse  coming  in  wet  and  dirty  should  be  left  in  that  state  till  the 
next  day;  but  it  is  perhaps  necessary  to  explain  to  the  idle  groom 
that  it  is  not  a  mere  polishing  of  the  surface  of  the  coat  which  is 
wanted,  but  a  deep  steady  pressure  of  the  brush  into  the  roots  of 
the  hair,  so  as  to  remove  all  the  scurf  which  collects  around  them 
and  clogs  the  pores,  through  which  the  sweat  ought  to  be  allowed 
to  exude  freely.  Practically  it  is  found  that  an  hour's  good  strap- 
ping daily,  not  only  gives  a  polish  to  the  coat,  but  it  causes  the 
secretion  of  a  fine  oil,  which  has  a  tendency  to  throw  off  water, 
and  thus  may  save  the  horse  exposed  to  the  rain  from  catching 
cold.  Moreover,  it  certainly  stimulates  the  nerves  so  as  to  enable 
them  to  bear  exposure  to  the  weather,  which  would  otherwise  tell 
injuriously  on  an  animal  which  is  covered  up  with  thick  clothing 
in-doors,  and  stripped  of  everything,  even  of  the  long  coat  which 
nature  gives  him,  when  he  is  submitted  to  the  "pelting  of  the  piti- 
less storm."  When  the  horse  is  turned  out  to  grass,  he  is  washed 
by  every  shower  of  rain,  and  though  his  coat  continues  to  look 
dirty  on  the  surface,  yet  the  skin  itself  is  braced  by  thf  winds  and 
cleansed  by  the  waters  of  heaven.  Not  so,  however,  in-doors. 
Here  his  clothing  keeps  his  coat  short,  and  keeps  up  a  continual 
state  of  insensible  perspiration,  the  watery  particles  of  which  pass 


184  THE  HORSE. 

off  through  ,he  woollen  rug  or  serge,  leaving  the  salts  and  animal 
matters  behind,  as  is  apparent  on  examining  the  internal  surface 
of  any  clothing  which  has  been  worn  for  any  length  of  time  with- 
out washing,  when  it  will  be-  found  to  be  lined  twith  scurf,  and 
matted  with  oily  animal  matters.  There  are  many  drugs  which 
will  give  a  gloss  to  the  skin,  but  they  will  diminish  instead  of 
increasing  its  capability  to  bear  exposure,  and  hence  their  use  is 
altogether  forbidden  by  those  who  know  their  injurious  effects. 
The  horse  which  is  little  used  requires  dressing  to  take  the  place 
of  exercise,  and  if  he  has  plenty  of  good  strapping,  his  coat  will 
look  like  satin;  but  the  hunter  and  the  hack  or  harness-horse, 
exposed  to  all  weathers,  must  be  carefully  groomed  and  receive 
plenty  of  elbow  grease,  or  his  coat  will  look  hollow  and  stand  out 
like  "the  quills  of  the  fretful  porcupine,"  whenever  he  is  allowed 
to  stand  for  a  few  minutes  in  a  cool  wind. 

THE  FIRST  THING  WHICH  THE  GROOM  does  in  commencing  his 
morning's  task  is  to  turn  the  horse  round  in  his  stall,  and  fold  the 
quarter  piece  back  upon  itself,  so  as  to  expose  the  whole  of  the 
fore  quarters.  Then,  taking  his  brush  in  the  hand  nearest  the 
head,  whichever  side  he  begins  with,  he  works  away  at  the  head 
and  face  till  he  has  thoroughly  cleansed  those  parts,  carefully 
clearing  out  the  dust  and  dirt  from  the  roots  of  the  ears,  where  it 
is  very  apt  to  lodge,  and  continually  cleaning  his  brush  with  the 
curry-comb  held  in  the  other  hand.  Next  proceeding  to  the  neck, 
he  works  at  that  part  in  the  same  way,  turning  the  mane  over  to 
the  other  side,  and  then  going  to  the  shoulders,  bosom,  and  legs, 
and  finishing  off  with  a  whisp  of  hay  slightly  damp,  instead  of  the 
brush.  Having  thoroughly  worked  at  this  half  of  the  body,  the 
horse  is  turned  round  in  his  stall,  and  the  hind  quarters  and  flank 
treated  in  the  same  way,  the  clothing  being  removed  entirely  while 
this  is  going  on.  In  the  spring  and  autumn,  when  the  coat  is 
being  shed,  the  brush  should  never  be  used,  and  the  whisp  alone 
should  be  depended  on.  Nothing  spoils  the  look  of  the  new  coat  so 
surely  as  the  brush,  except  perhaps  the  currycomb  ;  but  this  latter 
should  not,  under  any  circumstances,  touch  the  skin  of  a  horse 
when  it  is  in  proper  order,  and  it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  forbid  its 
use  when  the  coat  is  being  shed,  at  which  time  it  would  be  posi- 
tively cruel,  as  well  as  injurious  to  the  appearance.  The  brush 
and  whisp  having  effectually  cleansed  the  skin,  and  given  the  hair 
itself  a  certain  amount  of  polish,  the  finishing  stroke  is  put  to  the 
dressing  by  means  of  the  linen  rubber,  with  the  addition,  in  well- 
managed  stables,  of  the  leather.  Either  or  both  of  these  in  suc- 
cession are  steadily  passed  over  the  surface  in  the  direction  of  the 
hair  of  each  part,  and  then  the  quarter  piece  or  rug,  as  the  case 
may  be,  is  replaced,  taking  care  to  throw  it  lightly  in  front  of  its 
proper  place,  and  then  to  draw  it  steadily  backwards,  so  as  not  to 


DRESSING,  OR  GROOMING.  185 

disturb  the  proper  position  of  a  hair.  The  roller  is  smoothly  put 
on,  being  first  laid  on  the  back  double,  and  then  the  offside  is  turned 
over  into  its  place,  when  the  straps  being  laid  hold  of  under  the 
belly,  it  is  properly  tightened  and  the  quarter  piece  smoothed 
beneath  it.  This  completes  the  dressing  of  the  body,  but  there 
are  several  minor  points  still  to  be  attended  to.  A  clean  sponge 
is  squeezed  out,  and  with  it  the  nostrils,  eyes,  and  anus  are  sponged 
clean,  and,  if  necessary,  the  mane  is  damped  so  as  to  enable  the 
groom  to  comb  and  brush  it  smoothly  down  on  its  right  side.  The 
tail  also  is  carefully  combed  out,  beginning  at  the  lower  end,  if  it 
is  a  full  one,  and  not  touching  the  top  until  the  bottom  is  smoothly 
arranged.  Lastly,  the  legs  and  feet  are  attended  to,  the  stopping, 
or  whatever  may  be  in  the  latter,  being  picked  out,  the  legs  washed 
if  stained,  and  then  carefully  rubbed  dry.  Many  grooms,  when 
they  have  white  legs  to  keep  clean,  begin  the  dressing  by  washing 
them,  and  then  putting  on  flannel  bandages,  they  leave  them  on 
till  they  have  done  the  body,  when  they  are  taken  off  and  the  legs 
rubbed  with  the  leather  and  linen  rubber,  till  they  are  quite  dry, 
finishing  with  plenty  of  hand  rubbing  if  they  are  at  all  inclined 
to  fill.  All  this  being  done,  the  litter  is  put  straight,  and  the  horse 
is  ready  to  have  his  second  feed.  A  good  deal  of  muscular  exer- 
tion, and  laid  out  in  the  right  way,  is  necessary  for  the  due  per- 
formance of  the  groom's  daily  task.  There  is  no  royal  road  to 
make  a  horse's  coat,  when  in  work,  really  look  well,  and  not  loss 
than  an  hour's  hard  strapping  will  suffice  for  this  daily.  White  and 
light  gray  horses  will  take  up  even  more  time  than  this,  as  with 
all  the  care  that  can  be  exercised  the  thighs  and  legs  will  occa- 
sionally become  stained  by  lying  in  the  dung  dropped  during  the 
night.  Soap  and  water  laid  on  warm,  and  well  rubbed,  will  get 
rid  of  a  great  deal  of  the  brown  color  left,  and  if  it  is  not  suffered 
to  increase  by  successive  layers,  it  may  be  removed  with  compara- 
tive ease.  The  slight  tinge  which  remains  may  be  got  rid  of  by 
the  aid  of  washerwoman's  blue,  a  bag  of  which  is  to  be  dipped  into 
clean  water  and  the  skin  washed  with  this  after  the  soap  has  beei 
got  rid  of.  A  little  experience  is  required  to  ascertain  the  exac  t 
amount  of  blue,  but  one  or  two  experiments  will  soon  teach  an  in 
telligent  groom. 

WHENEVER  A  HORSE  is  WANTED  to  go  out,  he  must  again  be 
whisped  over  before  his  saddle  or  his  harness  is  put  on.  The  groom 
strips  the  whole  of  the  clothes  off,  turns  him  round  in  the  stall, 
and  carefully  clears  all  the  dust  away  from  the  ears  and  head  with 
the  rubber ;  then,  proceeding  regularly  backwards,  the  whole  body 
is  smoothed  over,  and  the  saddle  and  bridle  or  harness  put  on. 
Lastly,  the  feet  are  picked,  and  an  oil-brush  is  rubbed  over  the 
outside  of  the  hoofs,  to  give  them  a  neat  appearance,  when  the 
16* 


186  THE  HORSE. 

pillar  reins  are  buckled  to  the  bit  on  each  side,  and  the  horse  is 
left  till  he  is  wanted. 

DRESSING  AFTER  WORK  depends  upon  the  state  in  which  the 
horse  is  returned  to  the  stable,  when  he  may  be  cool  and  clean,  or 
in  a  profuse  sweat  still  going  on,  or  with  his  sweat  dried  in,  or 
completely  smothered  with  dirt,  or  wet  from  rain,  but  chilled  rather 
than  too  hot ;  or  lastly,  when  exhausted  from  a  severe  run  or  other 
hard  work. 

WHEN  THE  HORSE  RETURNS  COOL  AND  GLEAN,  the  groom  throws 
his  rug  lightly  over  his  quarters,  and,  taking  a  bucket  and  a  brush 
he  proceeds  to  pick  and  wash  out  the  feet,  standing  on  the  near 
side,  with  his  back  to  the  horse's  head,  so  that  he  can  use  his  left 
hand  to  hold  the  feet,  and  his  right  for  the  brush.  If  the  legs 
are  quite  clean,  there  is  no  necessity  for  washing  them  at  all;  but 
most  grooms  do  so  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  if  they  are  properly 
dried  afterwards,  there  is  no  objection  to  the  plan.  Hunters,  and 
valuable  horses  of  all  kinds,  are  immediately  protected  by  flannel 
bandages;  but  in  ordinary  stables  the  legs  are  merely  partially 
dried  with  a  rubber,  and  are  left  in  that  state  till  the  horse  is 
dressed  over.  If  the  work  has  been  continued  for  more  than  four 
or  five  hours  without  feeding,  it  will  be  well  to  put  on  flannel  band- 
ages, and  let  the  horse  have  a  feed  of  corn ;  but,  otherwise,  it  is 
better  to  finish  the  dressing  first.  The  cloth  being  removed,  a 
whisp  of  hay  is  taken  in  the  hand,  and  first  the  head  and  neck,  and 
then  the  body,  is  dressed  over ;  finishing  off  with  the  rubber,  as 
previously  described.  The  clothing  is  then  put  on,  the  legs  thor- 
oughly dried,  the  litter  put  straight,  and  the  task  is  finished. 

WHEN  BROUGHT  IN  STILL  SWEATING  PROFUSELY,  if  the  weather 
is  warm,  the  horse  must  be  led  about  in  the  shade,  with  the  sad- 
dle on,  till  he  is  nearly  or  quite  dry;  for  if  he  is  put  into  the  stable 
before  he  is  cool,  he  will  break  out  again  as  badly  as  ever,  and  if 
the  saddle  is  removed  the  back  will  become  sore.  A  hemp  halter 
is  cooler  and  more  handy  than  a  head-collar,  and  it  is  usually  em- 
ployed out  of  doors  for  all  purposes  connected  with  cleaning.  In 
the  winter,  this  exposure  to  the  air  out  of  doors  is  not  necessary ; 
and,  indeed,  it  would  often  be  dangerous,  the  stable  being  gener- 
ally cool  enough  to  stop  all  tendency  to  sweat,  even  with  a  light 
rug  on.  At  this  season,  therefore,  after  the  legs  are  washed  and 
the  bandages  put  on,  which  they  should  be  whenever  the  horse  is 
in  a  sweat,  the  dressing  may  be  conducted  in  the  usual  way,  in  the 
expectation,  which  will  seldom  be  disappointed,  that  at  the  end  of 
half  s>n  hour's  strapping,  the  skin  will  have  become  quite  cool,  and 
will  look  all  the  better  for  the  profuse  cleansing  which  it  has  re- 
ceived by  means  of  the  watery  fluid  given  off  by  it.  A  scraper 
will  be  necessary,  which  may  be  either  of  wood  or  iron  ;  and  with 
this  all  the  superfluous  moisture  is  at  once  scraped  from  the  sur- 


DRESSING,  OR  GROOMING.  187 

face,  which  greatly  facilitates  the  process  of  drying.  Two  men 
ought  then  to  set  to  work,  each  taking  a  side,  and  working  first  at 
the  head,  and  then  gradually  backwards.  In  this  way,  no  part  is 
allowed  to  chill,  and  the  moisture  is  removed  as  rapidly  as  possi- 
ble. In  the  use  of  the  whisp,  the  rubbing  need  not  always  be 
hard ;  and  it  should  be  chiefly  against  the  direction  of  the  hair 
till  it  is  nearly  dry,  when  the  proper  direction  is  again  taken. 
There  is  a  good  deal  of  art  in  drying  a  sweating  horse,  and  nothing 
but  experience  and  practical  teaching  will  give  it.  As  a  gen- 
eral rule,  it  takes  two  men  nearly  three-quarters  of  an  hour  to 
thoroughly  dress  a  horse  coming  in  profusely  sweating,  supposing 
the  weather  to  be  only  moderately  warm.  In  very  hot  weather, 
such  an  attempt  would  be  quite  fruitless,  and  the  only  resource  is 
to  wait  patiently  till  the  effects  of  exercise  are  abated  sufficiently 
to  allow  of  the  ordinary  clothing  being  worn.  Experience  soon 
tells  the  groom  how  soon  he  can  venture  to  begin,  and  no  rule  can 
possibly  be  laid  down  which  will  supply  the  place  of  this  valuable 
power.  Even  when  the  horse  is  taken  in,  he  must  not  at  first  be 
clothed,  but  he  must  be  dressed  without  anything  on  him ;  and  in 
summer  he  must  often  be  left  for  some  time  afterwards  in  a  naked 
state.  When  there  is  a  good  open  yard  shaded  from  the  sun,  the 
dressing  should  be  done  out  of  doors ;  and  when  this  can  be 
managed,  it  may  be  commenced  much  sooner  than  in  the  stable, 
unless  this  is  a  very  cool  one.  Slight  muscular  action,  either  by 
walking,  or  in  some  other  shape,  is  necessary  to  prevent  conges- 
tion of  blood  in  the  internal  organs;  but  it  matters  not  whether  it 
is  effected  by  simply  leading  the  horse  about,  or  by  stirring  him  up, 
as  is  always  the  case  in  dressing  even  the  dullest  animal.  In  other 
respects,  there  is  no  difference  from  the  plan  last  described. 

WHEN  THE  SWEAT  is  COMPLETELY  DRIED  IN,  the  hair  is  full 
of  powdery  matter,  which  must  be  thoroughly  brushed  out,  before 
the  skin  will  look  well  or  the  horse  be  properly  dressed.  To  do 
this,  nothing  more  is  required  than  the  use  of  the  brush  previously 
to  the  whisping  over ;  but  a  good  deal  of  time  must  be  spent  in 
getting  rid  of  all  the  foreign  matters  left  behind  on  the  evapora- 
tion of  the  watery  particles  of  the  sweat.  There  is  an  amount  of 
grease  in  it  which  makes  the  powder  stick  to  the  hair,  and  no- 
thing but  hard  labor  will  get  it  away.  For  this  reason,  many  grooms 
adopt  the  plan  of  washing  their  horses  all  over  with  soap  and 
water,  when  they  come  home  in  this  state ;  and  although  I  prefer 
dry  rubbing,  I  would  rather  have  water  used  than  let  the  skin  re- 
main full  of  dry  sweat.  A  common  water  brush  is  generally  used, 
or,  if  the  coat  is  thin,  a  sponge  will  be  far  better.  No  time  must 
be  lost  in  the  operation  ;  and  unless  two  men  can  be  spared,  the 
rug  must  be  thrown  on  as  soon  as  the  water  is  scraped  off  with  the 
scraper,  and  the  skin  is  just  partially  dried.  In  this  state  he  may 


188  .     THE  HORSE. 

be  left  for  a  few  minutes  \  attention,  in  the  meantime,  being  paid 
to  the  thorough  drying  of  the  head  and  neck,  which  cannot  well 
be  clothed  advantageously.  These  parts  soon  dry;  for  in  washing 
them  there  is  no  occasion  to  wet  the  mane,  which  may  be  turned 
over  to  the  other  side  while  each  is  being  cleaned,  and  the  ordinary 
coat  of  the  head  and  neck  holds  very  little  water.  After  they 
are  made  comfortable,  the  cloth  is  turned  partly  back  over  the 
loins,  and  the  shoulders,  ribs,  and  bosom  are  dried  with  the  whisp 
and  rubber ;  after  which  the  whole  is  stripped  off,  and  the  hind 
quarters  thoroughly  dried. 

A  HORSE  SMOTHERED  IN  DIRT  is  by  careless  grooms  too  often 
left  to  dry  with  it  all  on ;  and  then  it  is  brushed  out,  or,  if  idle- 
ness reigns  triumphant,  a  besom  is  taken  in  hand  for  the  purpose. 
Where  the  particles  of  mud  are  few  and  far  between,  and  are 
already  dry  or  nearly  so,  there  is  no  objection  to  their  being  re- 
moved by  friction  alone ;  but  if  they  are  wet  and  (as  they  gener- 
ally are)  in  large  masses,  water  must  be  used  to  get  rid  of  them ; 
and  the  whole  of  the  legs,  belly,  flank,  and  tail  will  often  require  a 
good  slushing  with  a  brush  and  water  before  the  dirt  is  removed — 
the  tail  being  placed  in  the  bucket  itself,  if  it  is  a  long  one,  and 
thoroughly  cleansed  in  that  way.  A  scraper  is  then  employed  to 
get  rid  of  the  water,  the  legs  are  superficially  rubbed  and  then 
bandaged,  the  clothing  is  thrown  on,  and  the  dressing  may  be  com- 
menced as  usual. 

IN  CASE  THE  SKIN  is  WET  FROM  RAIN,  whether  the  work  has 
been  fast  or  not,  it  is  seldom  necessary  to  provide  against  a  continu- 
ance of  the  moisture,  for  the  chill  of  the  rain  will  generally  pre- 
vent any  tendency  to  break  out  in  a  sweat.  The  horse  is,  therefore, 
at  once  taken  into  the  stable,  and,  if  very  wet,  he  is  scraped ;  after 
which  he  is  rubbed  over,  and  his  clothing  put  on  while  his  legs  are 
being  attended  to,  by  washing,  bandaging,  &c.  The  dressing  is 
then  conducted  as  in  the  case  of  the  horse  coming  in  sweating  in 
cool  weather. 

AN  EXHAUSTED  HORSE  demands  al*  the  resources  of  the  groom's 
art,  without  which  he  will  suffer  in  more  ways  than  one.  An 
extreme  case  seldom  occurs,  except  in  hunters,  who  require  the 
greatest  care  to  bring  them  round  after  a  severe  run.  On  coming 
into  the  stable,  if  their  powers  have  been  taxed  to  the  utmost,  and 
their  ears  are  cold  and  drooping,  the  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  get 
these  warm  by  friction ;  an  assistant,  in  the  meantime,  preparing 
some  gruel,  while  another  puts  some  warm  flannel  bandages  on  the 
legs.  It  is  wonderful  what  a  restorative  is  found  in  the  friction  of 
the  ears,  after  a  few  minutes  of  which,  a  moderately  tired  horse 
will  look  quite  a  different  animal,  evidently  enjoying  the  process, 
and  dropping  his  head  to  the  hands  of  the  groom  with  the  most 
perfect  air  of  enjoyment.  Where,  however,  there  is  only  one 


CLIPPING  vs.  LONG  COATS.  189 

groom  for  the  whole  task,  the  bandages  should  be  put  on  first — 
that  is  to  say,  as  soon  as  the  clothing  is  thrown  on  ;  then  the  gruel 
should  be  given,  and  as  soon  as  this  is  swallowed  the  ears  should 
be  warmed  by  friction.  No  attempt  at  dressing  should  be  made 
till  the  gruel  is  taken  and  the  ears  are  warm  ;  and  if  they  cannot 
be  restored  to  their  proper  temperature,  a  warm  cordial  of  ale  and 
spices  should  at  once  be  given.  Usually,  however,  there  is  no 
occasion  for  this ;  and,  after  getting  the  stomach  attended  to,  the 
skin  of  the  body  begins  to  recover  its  natural  temperature,  and  the 
extremities  become  warm  again.  In  the  course  of  an  hour,  the 
dressing  may  generally  be  effected;  but  no  time  should  be  lost  in 
it,  and  the  skin  must  not  on  any  account  be  chilled.  After  it  is 
done,  a  feed  of  oats  and  a  few  split  beans  may  be  given,  if  the 
appetite  seems  inclined  to  return;  but  sometimes,  when  the  ex- 
haustion is  excessive,  no  solid  food  can  be  taken  with  safety  till  the 
next  day ;  and  gruel,  with  cordials,  must  be  resorted  to  as  the  only 
kind  of  support  which  the  stomach  will  bear. 

CLIPPING,  SINGEING,  AND  TRIMMING. 

THE  COAT  OF  THE  HORSE  is  changed  twice  a  year,  the  long 
hair  of  winter  coming  off  in  April  and  May,  or  sometimes  earlier, 
when  the  stables  are  warm,  and  there  is  no  exposure  to  severe  cold. 
A  slight  sweat  hastens  this  shedding,  as  every  horseman  knows  by 
experience,  and  even  in  harness  the  hairs  are  cast  in  the  face  of 
the  driver  to  his  great  annoyance  on  a  windy  day.  Clipped  horses 
are  longer  than  others  in  shedding  their  coats,  and  present  a  most 
disagreeable  mottled  appearance,  which  makes  the  state  still  more 
noticeable.  The  long  hair  on  the  legs  is  about  a  month  later  in 
coming  off,  and  indeed  it  will  not  fall  till  midsummer,  unless  some 
more  violent  means  than  are  used  in  ordinary  dressing  are  adopted. 
With  some  breeds  and  individuals  the  winter  coat  is  not  very  much 
longer  and  coarser  than  that  of  the  summer ;  but  all,  save  blind 
horses,  show  more  or  less  difference  in  favor  of  the  summer  coat. 
Curiously  enough,  horses  which  are  totally  deprived  of  sight,  have 
almost  invariably  a  good  winter's  coat,  often  better  than  that  which 
they  show  at  other  seasons ;  but  why  this  is  so  no  one  has  ever 
been  able  to  explain,  though  I  have  never  known  the  fact  disputed. 
About  the  middle  of  October,  or  early  in  November,  the  summer 
coat  is  thrown  off;  but  some  of  the  hair  appears  to  remain  as  a 
sort  of  undercoat,  among  which  the  long,  coarse  hairs  of  winter 
make  their  appearance.  These  continue  growing  for  six  weeks  or 
two  months  if  they  are  clipped  or  singed,  and  even  after  Christ- 
mas, if  the  weather  is  cold  and  the  skin  is  much  exposed,  there 
will  be  an  evident  increase  in  length  of  some  of  the  hair.  In 
accordance  with  the  growth  of  this  on  the  body  is  that  of  the  hair 
on  the  legs,  which  become  feathered  all  the  way  down  below  the 


190  THE  HORSE. 

knees  in  the  forelegs,  and  half  way  down  the  backs  of  the  canna 
bones  in  the  hind  legs.  Low-bred  horses  have  more  hair  on  these 
parts  than  thorough-breds ;  but  even  these  latter,  if  they  are  not 
stabled  tolerably  warmly,  exhibit  a  great  deal  of  hair  on  their  legs. 
Those  who  can  see  no  possibility  of  improving  on  nature  come  to 
the  conclusion  that  this  long  hair  is  a  defence  against  the  cold, 
which  ought  not  to  be  removed,  and  they  argue  that  clipping  and 
singeing  are  on  that  account  to  be  rejected  altogether.  But  these 
gentlemen  forget  that  the  horse  in  his  native  plains  has  always  a 
short  coat,  and  that  the  winds  and  rains,  which  cause  him  here  to 
throw  out  an  extra  protection,  are  not  natural  to  him.  Moreover, 
if  the  animal  is  left  to  follow  his  own  impulses,  even  when  turned 
out  in  this  country,  he  will  be  all  the  better  for  his  long  coat,  for 
while  it  has  the  great  advantage  of  protecting  him  from  the  cold, 
it  is  not  wetted  by  sweat,  because  he  does  not  voluntarily  gallop 
long  and  fast  enough  to  produce  that  secretion.  The  natural  pro- 
tection is  therefore  undoubtedly  good  for  the  horse  when  left  in  a 
state  of  nature  ;  but  when  man  steps  in  and  requires  the  use  of 
the  horse  for  such  work  as  will  sweat  him  severely,  he  discovers 
that  a  long  coat  produces  such  great  exhaustion,  both  during  work 
and  after  it,  that  it  entirely  forbids  the  employment  of  the  horse 
for  hunting,  or  any  fast  work.  I  have  myself  many  times  found  it 
impossible  to  extend  a  horse  for  any  distance  on  account  of  his  long 
coat,  which  distressed  him  so  much  as  to  make  him  blow  directly, 
whereas  on  removing  it  with  the  clipping  scissors  he  could  gallop 
as  lightly  as  a  race-horse,  and  be  able  to  go  as  fast  and  as  far 
again  as  before.  When  this  happens  in  the  course  of  the  week 
following  the  previous  failure,  the  only  change  made  being  in  the 
coat,  there  can  be  no  mistake  made,  and  a  constant  repetition  of 
the  same  result  leaves  no  room  for  dispute  as  to  the  beneficial  effects 
of  removing  the  hair.  But,  say  the  opponents  of  the  plan,  "  All 
this  may  be  true,  yet  it  is  unsafe  to  expose  the  clipped  horse  after 
he  has  been  warmed,  or  indeed  at  any  time."  Experience  tells  a 
very  different  tale,  and  informs  us  that  so  far  from  making  the 
horse  more  liable  to  cold,  clipping  and  singeing  render  him  far  less 
so.  Suppose  one  of  ourselves  to  be  exposed  to  a  cold  wind,  should 
we  rather  have  on  a  thin  dry  coat  or  a  thick  wet  one  ?  Assuredly 
the  former,  and  undoubtedly  the  wearer  of  it  would  be  less  liable 
to  cold  than  he  who  has  the  wet  one  on.  So  with  the  horse.  As 
long  as  his  winter  coat  can  be  kept  dry  he  is  protected  by  it,  and 
the  slow  worker,  who  is  not  made  to  pull  such  heavy  weight  as  to 
sweat  him,  will  be  all  the  better  for  its  protection,  but  the  moment 
the  pace  is  sufficiently  accelerated  to  warm  the  skin  the  sweat  pours 
forth,  and  is  kept  up  in-doors  by  the  matted  mass  of  moist  hair 
with  which  the  horse  is  covered.  In  former  days  I  have  had  horses 
wet  for  weeks  together,  from  the  impossibility  of  getting  them  dry 


CLIPPING  vs.  LONG  COATS.  191 

in  the  intervals  of  their  work.  They  would  break  out  afresh  when 
apparently  cool,  and  by  no  possible  means  could  they  be  thoroughly 
dried.  This,  of  course,  wasted  their  flesh  to  a  frightful  extent,  but 
on  clipping  them  it  was  soon  put  on  again,  snowing  the  great 
advantage  of  the  plan.  A  chronic  cough  almost  always  accom- 
panies this  state  of  constant  sweat,  and  it  will  be  lucky  for  the 
owner  of  a  horse  so  treated  if  it  does  not  become  acute  and  put  an 
end  to  the  miserable  existence  of  the  poor  ill-treated  brute.  The 
case  is  not  always  fairly  put,  as,  for  instance,  by  Stewart,  in  his 
Stable  Economy,  at  page  120,  where  he  says,  "  A  long  coat  takes 
up  a  deal  of  moisture,  and  is  difficult  to  dry ;  but  whether  wet  or 
dry  it  affords  some  defence  to  the  skin,  which  is  laid  bare  to  every 
breath  of  air  when  deprived  of  its  natural  covering.  Every  one 
must  know  from  himself  whether  wet  clothing  and  a  wet  skin,  or 
no  clothing  and  a  wet  skin,  is  the  most  disagreeable  and  danger- 
ous. It  is  true  that  clipping  saves  the  groom  a  great  deal  of  labor. 
He  can  dry  the  horse  in  half  the  time,  and  with  less  than  half  of 
the  exertion  which  a  long  coat  requires ;  but  it  makes  his  atten- 
tion and  activity  more  necessary,  for  the  horse  is  almost  sure  to 
catch  cold,  if  not  dried  immediately.  When  well  clothed  with 
hair  he  is  in  less  danger,  and  not  so  much  dependent  on  the  care 
of  his  groom."  Now,  I  maintain  that  this  passage  is  full  of  falla- 
cies and  misstatements.  The  comparison  is  not  between  wet  cloth- 
ing and  a  wet  skin,  and  no  clothing  and  a  wet  skin  ;  but,  as  I  have 
before  observed,  between  a  wet  long  coat  and  a  dry  short  one.  The 
clipping  removes  the  tendency  to  sweat,  or  if  this  secretion  is 
poured  out  it  ceases  directly  the  exercise  which  produced  it  is 
stopped.  But  taking  Mr.  Stewart  on  his  own  terms,  who  has  not 
experienced  the  relief  which  is  afforded  by  taking  off  wet  gloves 
and  exposing  the  naked  hands  to  the  same  amount  of  wind  and 
cold  ?  This  is  exactly  the  case  as  he  puts  it,  and  tells*  directly 
against  his  argument;  but  it  is  scarcely  worth  while  to  discuss  the 
subject  at  any  length,  for  I  know  no  horseman  of  experience  in 
the  present  day  who  does  not  advocate  the  use  of  the  scissors  or 
the  lamp,  whenever  the  winter  coat  is  much  longer  than  that  of 
summer.  That  horses  are  occasionally  to  be  met  with  which  show 
little  or  no  change  in  the  autumn  I  know  full  well;  but  these  are 
the  exceptions  to  the  rule,  being  few  and  far  between.  The  vast 
majority  would  have  their  hair  from  one  to  two  inches  long  if  left 
in  its  natural  state,  and  they  would  then  be  wholly  unfit  for  the 
uses  to  which  they  were  put.  We  may  therefore  consider  that  it 
is  admitted  to  be  the  best  plan  to  shorten  the  coat  in  the  autumn, 
and  all  I  have  to  do  is  to  discuss  the  best  modes  of  effecting  the 
purpose,  with  a  view  to  decide  whether  clipping  or  singeing  is  to 
be  preferred. 

CLIPPING  is  seldom  performed  by  any  but  the  professed  artist, 


192  THE  HORSE. 

inasmuch  as  it  requires  great  practice  to  make  the  shortened  coat 
look  even  and  smooth.  When  a  horse  is  well  clipped  his  skin  should 
look  as  level  and  almost  as  glossy  as  if  he  had  on  his  ordinary 
summer  coat ;  but  inferior  performers  are  apt  to  leave  ridges  in 
various  directions,  marking  each  cut  of  the  scissors.  It  should  not 
be  done  till  the  new  hair  has  attained  nearly  its  full  length,  for  it 
cannot  be  repeated  at  short  intervals  like  singeing.  If  it  is 
attempted  too  soon  the  new  coat  grows  unequally,  and  the  skin  in 
a  fortnight's  time  looks  rough  and  ragged.  A  comb  and  two  or 
three  pairs  of  variously  curved  scissors  are  all  that  are  required, 
with  the  exception  of  a  singeing  lamp,  which  must  be  used  at 
last  to  remove  any  loose  hairs  which  may  have  escaped  the  blades 
of  the  scissors.  Two  men  generally  work  together,  so  as  to  get  the 
operation  over  in  from  sixteen  to  twenty  hours,  which  time  it  will 
take  to  clip  an  averaged-sized  horse  properly.  These  men  were 
formerly  in  great  demand  at  the  clipping  season,  and  it  was  extra- 
ordinary how  little  rest  sufficed  for  them,  but  now  the  use  of  the 
gas  singeing-lamp  has  nearly  superseded  that  of  the  scissors,  and 
clippers  are  not  so  much  sought  after.  While  the  process  is  going 
on,  the  horse  ought  to  be  clothed  as  far  as  possible,  careful  men 
removing  only  as  much  of  the  quarter  piece  as  is  sufficient  to 
expose  the  part  they  are  working  at  and  no  more.  As  soon  as  the 
whole  body  is  gone  over  as  well  as  the  legs,  the  singeing-lamp  is 
lightly  passed  over  the  surface,  which  will  leave  the  hair  burned  to 
such  an  extent  as  to  require  either  washing  or  a  sweat,  which  lat- 
ter is  generally  adopted,  in  the  belief  that  it  has  a  tendency  to 
prevent  cold.  My  own  opinion  is  that  this  is  a  fallacy,  and  that 
soap  and  water  used  quickly  and  rapidly,  followed  up  by  a  good 
strapping  and  the  use  of  plenty  of  warm  clothing,  is  far  less  likely 
to  chill  the  horse  than  the  exhaustion  consequent  upon  a  sweat. 
I  have  tried  the  plan  repeatedly,  and  known  it  tried  by  others  still 
more  frequently,  but  I  have  never  heard  of  any  ill  effects  resulting. 
Very  often  a  sweat  is  exceedingly  inconvenient,  either  from  the 
difficulty  in  getting  ground,  as  happens  in  towns,  or  from  the  in- 
firm state  of  the  legs.  But  soap  and  water  can  always  be  obtained, 
and  if  carefully  used  there  is  not  the  slightest  danger  attending 
them.  Of  course,  after  the  removal  of  a  long  coat  the  skin  requires 
an  extra  protection  in-doors  in  the  shape  of  a  double  allowance  of 
clothing,  and  it  will  be  necessary  to  avoid  standing  still  out  of  doors, 
though,  as  I  before  remarked,  on  the  whole  the  risk  of  taking 
cold  by  horses  worked  hard  enough  to  sweat  them  is  less  if  they 
are  clipped  than  if  they  have  their  long  coats  on. 

SINGEING  requires  less  practice  than  clipping,  but  it  cannot  be 
done  without  some  little  experience  of  its  difficulties,  and  a  novice 
generally  burns  the  skin  as  well  as  the  hair.  To  keep  a  horse's 
coat  in  good  order  it  must  be  singed  several  times  in  the  course  of 


SINGEING— SHAVDtaM&fMING.  193 

the  autumn,  beginning  as  soon  as  the  new  growth  has  attained  a 
length  of  half  an  inch  beyond  what  is  usual.  The  singeing-lamp 
is  then  passed  lightly  over  the  whole  body,  and  soap  and  water 
being  used,  as  I  have  described  under  the  head  of  clipping,  or  a 
sweat  given  if  that  plan  is  preferred,  the  coat  is  left  for  a  fortnight 
or  three  weeks  till  it  has  grown  another  half-inch,  when  the  pro- 
cess is  repeated,  and  again  a  third,  and  even  a  fourth  time  if 
necessary.  On  account  of  these  repeated  applications  of  the  lamp, 
the  professed  singer  is  not  so  often  employed  as  the  clipper,  espe- 
cially as  the  former's  work  is  not  so  difficult  to  perform  as  that  of 
the  latter. 

The  lamp  now  in  common  use  is  attached  to  a  wide  copper  coinb 
made  like  a  rake  in  principle,  and  so  arranged  that  the  teeth  raise 
the  hair  and  draw  the  ends  into  the  flame.  Where  gas  is  procur- 
able the  comb  is  attached  to  the  gas-pipe  by  a  flexible  tube,  and 
the  lamp  consists  merely  in  a  number  of  holes  perforated  along  the 
edge  of  the  comb,  so  that  a  series  of  jets  of  gas  are  lighted,  and 
burn  so  strongly,  that  the  coat  is  completely  removed  as  near  the 
skin  as  the  teeth  of  the  comb  raise  it.  If  gas  cannot  be  obtained, 
a  wide  wick  of  cotton  is  inserted  in  a  flat  holder,  and  the  ends  pro- 
truding to  the  level  of  the  teeth,  while  a  reservoir  filled  with  naphtha 
supplies  them  with  that  inflammable  fluid,  a  constant  flame  is  main- 
tained, but  not  nearly  equal  in  strength  to  that  from  gas.  As  the 
coat  is  not  allowed  to  grow  so  long  before  it  is  singed,  so  the  cloth- 
ing need  not  be  much  increased  after  its  removal,  and,  indeed,  in 
well  regulated  stables  there  is  little  or  no  change  required.  Singe- 
ing is  performed  in  less  than  one  quarter  the  time  of  clipping,  and 
a  shilling's  worth  of  naphtha  is  enough  for  one  horse,  unless  his 
coat  is  unusually  long. 

SHAVING  was  introduced  some  years  ago  to  a  limited  extent,  but 
it  requires  so  long  a  confinement  of  the  horse  after  it  is  performed, 
that  it  was  soon  abandoned.  The  hair  is  lathered  and  cut  off  with 
the  razor  as  closely  as  from  the  human  chin,  and  unless  this  is 
done  exactly  at  the  right  time,  the  growth  subsequently  is  too  short 
or  too  long.  Instances  have  been  known  in  which  horses  have 
remained  naked  until  the  next  spring,  and  were  thereby  rendered 
perfectly  useless,  as  they  were  chilled  directly  their  clothing  was 
removed.  The  only  advantage  in  shaving  over  clipping  is  to  be 
found  in  the  reduced  labor  required ;  a  good  razor,  or  rather  set 
of  razors,  soon  going  over  the  surface.  But  the  invention  of  singe- 
ing did  away  with  this  superiority,  and  the  shaving  of  horses  is 
therefore  one  of  the  fashions  of  a  day  which  have  now  disappeared. 

TRIMMING.  The  jaws,  nostrils,  ears,  legs,  mane  and  tail,  are  all 
more  or  less  subjected  to  the  care  of  the  groom,  who  removes 
superfluous  hairs  from  each  or  all  by  various  means,  as  follows : — 

The  jaws,  nostrils,  and  ears  are  singed,  the  last  named  not  being 
17  N 


194  THE  HORSE. 

touched  inside,  as  the  internal  hairs  are  clearly  a  protection  of  the 
delicate  lining  membrane  of  the  ear  from  the  cold  and  wet.  The 
long  bristles  of  the  nostrils  may  either  be  cut  off,  pulled  out,  or 
singed  off,  but  the  first  plan  is  the  easiest  and  the  most  humane. 
There  are,  also,  some  bristles  about  the  eyes  which  are  generally 
removed,  but  it  is  very  doubtful  whether  many  an  eye  would  not 
be  saved  from  a  blow  in  the  dark  if  they  were  left  untouched. 
Fashion,  however,  dictates  their  removal,  and  her  orders  must 
generally  be  complied  with.  The  hair  which  grows  an  inch  or 
more  in  length  beneath  the  jaw,  being  of  the  same  nature  as  the 
rest  of  the  coat,  can  only  be  singed  off  with  advantage,  and  it 
should  be  done  as  fast  as  it  grows,  especially  if  the  singeing  is  not 
universal,  or  there  will  be  a  different  color  presented  in  these  parts. 
Nothing  gives  a  horse  such  a  low-bred  appearance  as  a  goat-like 
beard,  and  the  trimming  of  this  part  alone  will  completely  alter  the 
character  of  the  animal  where  tha  hair  has  been  at  all  long.  The 
legs  are  trimmed  partly  by  singeing,  and  partly  either  by  clipping 
or  pulling  out  the  hairs.  Great  dexterity  is  required  to  manage 
this  performance  in  a  workmanlike  manner,  so  as  to  avoid  the  stale 
and  poster-like  appearance  which  is  presented  by  a  leg  clipped  all 
over  (without  a  corresponding  clipping  of  the  body),  and  at  the 
same  time  to  remove  all,  or  nearly  all,  the  superfluous  hair.  In 
the  summer,  a  clipped  leg  is  totally  inadmissible,  and  even  from 
the  legs  of  a  badly-bred  horse  the  hair  may  be  pulled  by  gradually 
working  at  it  for  a  little  time  every  day  with  the  fingers,  armed 
with  powdered  resin.  This  prevents  the  hair  slipping  through 
them,  and  by  its  aid  such  a  firm  hold  may  be  obtained  that,  as  I 
said  before,  perseverance  will  enable  the  groom  to  clear  the  legs 
entirely,  with  the  exception,  generally,  of  a  strong  lock  of  hair 
behind  the  pastern.  When  this  is  very  obstinate,  it  is  allowable  to 
use  the  scissors  to  clear  away  the  hair  below  the  horny  growth 
which  is  found  there,  but  there  should  always  be  left  a  slight 
fringe  round  this,  so  as  to  avoid  the  sharp  and  stiff  outline  presented 
by  the  clipped  leg.  In  the  winter,  the  arms  aad  backs  of  the 
knees,  as  well  as  the  bosom  and  the  insides  of  the  quarters,  will 
generally  want  singeing,  whether  the  body  is  submitted  to  the  lamp 
or  not;  but  in  the  summer,  even  if  any  long  hairs  are  left  there, 
they  are  easily  removed  by  the  hand  armed  with  resin.  Unless 
general  clipping  or  singeing  is  practised,  the  front  surfaces  of  the 
legs  do  not  require  trimming  at  any  season  of  the  year. 

The  mane  is  not  now  usually  cut,  but  formerly  it  was  a  very 
common  practice  to  "  hog"  it,  that  is,  to  cut  it  to  a  sharp-pointed 
ridge,  sticking  straight  upwards  from  the  crest,  and  giving  that 
part  the  appearance  of  extraordinary  height.  Sometimes,  how- 
ever, the  mane  is  very  thick,  and  then  for  the  sake  of  appearances 
it  is  necessary  to  thin  it,  which  is  done  by  twisting  a  small  lock 


TRIMMING.  195 

at  a  time  round  the  comb,  and  pulling  it  out;  this  gives  some 
little  pain,  but  apparently  not  much,  and  evidently  not  more  than 
the  trimming  of  the  legs,  and  not  so  much  as  in  pulling  out  the 
feelers  or  bristles  growing  from  the  nostrils.  A  small  lock  of  the 
mane  is  generally  cut  just  behind  the  ears  where  the  head  of  the 
bridle  rests,  as  it  would  otherwise  lie  beneath  that  part  in  an  un- 
tidy manner. 

In  trimming  the  tail  various  methods  are  adopted,  when  it  is 
cut  square;  for  if  the  hairs  are  allowed  to  grow  to  the  full  length, 
no  interference  is  necessary  beyond  an  occasional  clipping  of  their 
points  to  prevent  them  from  breaking  or  splitting.  A  square  tail, 
however,  whether  long  or  short,  demands  the  careful  use  of  the 
scissors  or  knife,  without  which  the  horse  to  which  it  belongs  is 
sadly  disfigured.  Two  modes  are  practised, — in  the  first  the  tail 
is  carefully  combed  out,  and  then  allowing  it  to  fall  in  its  natural 
position,  it  is  gathered  up  in  the  hand  just  above  the  part  to  be 
cut  off,  and  here  a  sharp  knife  is  drawn  across  it  backwards  and 
forwards  without  notching  it,  till  it  passes  clean  through.  The 
tail  is  then  released,  and  any  loose  hairs  projecting  are  removed 
with  the  scissors.  The  second  mode  is  not  so  easy,  but  when  well 
carried  out  is  more  satisfactory  to  the  eye,  inasmuch  as  it  is  capa- 
ble of  giving  a  sharper  and  more  defined  edge  to  the  square  tail. 
As  in  the  first  method,  the  tail  is  carefully  combed  out;  it  is  then 
held  by  an  assistant's  hand,  placed  beneath  the  root  of  the  dock, 
as  nearly  as  may  be  in  the  position  which  it  assumes  in  the  animal 
out  of  doors.  While  thus  poised  the  operator  takes  a  pair  of 
sharp  scissors,  and  holding  the  blades  horizontally  open,  he  in- 
sinuates one  of  them  through  the  middle  of  the  tail  at  the  place 
to  be  cut,  passing  it  straight  backwards,  and  cutting  the  hair 
quite  level  from  the  central  line  to  the  outside  on  his  own  left. 
Then  reversing  the  blades,  and  keeping  to  the  same  level,  he  cuts 
towards  the  right,  and  if  he  has  a  good  eye  and  can  use  his  hands 
in  accordance  with  its  dictates,  he  will  have  presented  a  very 
prettily  squared  tail.  On  the  other  hand,  if  these  organs  are 
defective,  or  if  he  wants  experience,  he  will  have  notched  the  end 
of  the  tail  in  a  most  unsightly  manner.  If  the  groom  wishes  to 
try  his  hand  in  this  operation,  he  should  get  hold  of  a  long  tail, 
and  begin  far  below  the  point  where  the  squared  end  is  intended 
finally  to  be.  This  will  afford  him  five  or  six  experimental  cuts, 
and  if  he  cannot  satisfy  himself,  as  he  nears  the  proper  length, 
that  he  will  be  likely  to  succeed,  he  can  still  call  in  the  aid  of  a 
more  skilful  operator  before  it  is  too  late.  The  hair  of  the  tail 
grows  so  slowly,  that  two  or  three  months  are  required  to  remove 
the  disfigurement  which  is  sometimes  caused  in  this  way,  and  con- 
sequently it  behooves  the  groom  to  be  doubly  careful,  for  his  own 
sake  as  well  as  his  master's. 


190  THE  HORSE. 

To  make  the  mane  lie  smoothly  on  its  proper  side,  which  it 
sometimes  obstinately  refuses  to  do,  it  must  be  plaited  in  small 
locks,  and  the  ends  loaded  with  lead,  if  it  cannot  be  made  to  lie 
down  without.  An  experienced  groom,  however,  will  generally 
succeed  in  so  managing  the  plaits  that  they  lie  close  to  the  neck, 
which  is  all  that  can  be  effected  by  the  aid  of  lead,  but  some- 
times the  hair  is  so  obstinate  that  nothing  else  will  effect  the 
object  in  view. 

USE  AND  APPLICATION  OF  BANDAGES. 

BANDAGES  are  applied  to  the  legs  of  the  horse  for  three  differ- 
ent purpose*.  First,  to  give  support  to  the  blood-vessels  and 
synovial  capsules;  secondly,  as  a  vehicle  for  applying  cold  lotions; 
and  thirdly,  for  drying  and  warming  them. 

For  the  mere  purpose  of  support  either  linen  or  flannel  bandages 
may  be  put  on,  according  to  the  weather,  and  the  tendency  to 
inflammation.  The  legs  of  seasoned  old  horses  are  seldom  so  prone 
to  become  hot  as  those  of  young  ones,  and  excepting  in  very 
warm  weather,  flannel  bandages  seem  to  suit  them  better  than 
linen.  On  the  contrary,  if  flannel  is  applied  to  the  legs  of  a  colt, 
even  if  they  are  not  inclined  to  inflame,  they  will  become  hot  and 
uncomfortable,  and  he  will  learn  to  tear  them  off,  in  which  some 
horses  become  perfect  adepts.  Whichever  kind  of  bandage  is  put 
on,  it  should  be  previously  tightly  rolled  with  the  strings  inwards, 
then  taking  it  in  the  right  hand,  and  unwrapping  about  six  inches, 
they  are  laid  against  the  canna  bone  on  the  side  nearest  to  the 
groom,  so  that  the  folds  shall  have  a  tendency  to  unroll  from  him 
and  not  to  him.  While  the  left  hand  keeps  the  end  from  slip- 
ping, the  right  passes  the  roll  of  bandage  closely  round  the  leg 
till  it  meets  the  left,  when  the  latter,  still  pressing  the  end  against 
the  leg,  lays  hold  of  the  roll,  and  allows  the  right  to  be  brought 
back  to  meet  it  on  the  other  side.  After  which  the  coils  are  re- 
peated till  the  whole  bandage  is  run  out  and  the  leg  encased,  one 
row  being  slightly  above  or  below  the  level  of  the  next,  as  may 
be  required.  The  great  art  consists  in  avoiding  unequal  pressure, 
and  yet  giving  sufficient  to  accomplish  the  purpose  for  which 
bandaging  is  designed.  From  the  projection  backwards  of  the 
pastern-joints  it  is  impossible  to  make  the  folds  lie  perfectly 
smooth,  and  there  must  be  loose  parts,  which  however  are  covered 
over  by  the  next  turn.  No  written  description,  however,  will 
suffice  to  teach  this  little  operation,  and  the  young  groom  should 
watch  a  good  bandager,  and  imitate  him  as  exactly  as  he  can. 
The  strings  at  the  end  serve  to  tie  the  bandage  on,  and  these  also 
must  neither  be  so  tight  as  to  cut  the  leg,  nor  so  loose  as  to  allow 
the  bandage  to  fall  down. 

When  cold  lotions  are  to  be  applied  by  means  of  bandages,  linen 


BANDAGES— MANAGEMENT  OF  THE  FEET.  197 

is  the  proper  material,  as  flannel  is  too  bad  a  conductor  of  heat,  by 
evaporation,  for  the  purpose.  The  whole  bandage,  after  being 
rolled  up  rather  tightly,  should  be  dipped  in  cold  water,  or  in 
the  lotion  which  may  be  recommended,  and  then  while  quite  wet 
it  is  to  be  applied  in  the  way  which  I  have  just  described.  The 
following  lotion  is  useful  for  the  purpose  : — 

Take  of  Tincture  of  Arnica  a  wine-glassful. 
"     Nitre  £  oz. 
"     Sal  Ammoniac  1  oz. 
"     Water  half  a  bucketful. 

Mix  and  use  by  dipping  the  bandages  in  before  applying  them,  and  by 
wetting  them  with  this  solution  afterwards  by  means  of  a  sponge. 

If  the  groom  is  careful,  he  may  remove  inflammation  of  the  legs 
better  by  means  of  dipping  them  in  cold  water,  or  the  above  lotion 
may  be  applied  with  a  sponge  every  half-hour,  holding  each  leg 
over  the  bucket,  than  with  the  aid  of  bandages.  A  cold  douche 
by  means  of  a  forcing  garden  engine  is  also  extremely  beneficial  to 
the  legs,  but  it  must  be  used  out  of  doors,  as  it  will  wet  the  litter 
and  the  walls  of  the  stall  if  the  water  is  splashed  over  them  within 
doors. 

FOR  DRYING  AND  WARMING  THE  LEGS  when  the  horse  is  being 
dressed,  flannel  is  the  only  proper  material  for  bandages.  Its  mode 
of  application  is  not  of  much  consequence,  provided  the  bandages 
are  put  on  rather  loosely,  for  tight  pressure  has  a  tendency  to 
prevent  the  return  of  natural  heat,  which  is  so  much  desired. 
After  wetting  the  legs  the  bandages  should  be  applied  somewhat 
more  tightly,  so  as  to  absorb  the  moisture  as  much  as  possible. 

MANAGEMENT  OF  THE  FEET. 

IN  THE  STABLED  HORSE  THE  FEET  require  constant  care,  for 
they  are  not  only  artificially  shod,  but  they  are  allowed  to  stand 
on  a  material  which  is  a  much  worse  conductor  of  heat  than  the 
surface  of  the  earth,  by  nature  designed  to  bear  them.  Hence,  if 
neglected,  they  either  become  hard  and  brittle,  or  they  are  allowed 
to  be  constantly  wet,  and  then  the  soft  covering  of  the  frog  is  de- 
composed, and  emits  a  disagreeably  smelling  discharge,  which  soon 
wastes  it  away,  leaving  no  other  protection  to  the  sensible  organ 
beneath,  and  constituting  what  is  called  an  ordinary  thrush. 
Again,  it  is  found  by  experience,  that  not  only  must  the  shoes  be 
renewed  as  they  wear  out,  but  even  if  no  work  is  done,  and  conse- 
quently they  are  not  reduced  in  size,  they  no  longer  fit  at  the  ex- 
piration of  about  three  weeks,  and  they  must  then  be  removed,  to 
allow  of  a  portion  of  the  sole  and  crust  being  cut  away  before  they 
are  again  put  on.  The  groom  must  therefore  attend  to  the  follow- 
ing points : — First,  to  prevent  the  feet  from  becoming  too  dry ; 
secondly,  to  take  measures  against  their  becoming  thrushy  from 
17* 


198  THE  HORSE. 

wet;  thirdly,  to  see  that  the  shoes  are  removed  at  the  end  of  every 
three  weeks,  or  more  frequently  if  necessary;  and  fourthly,  to 
examine  carefully  every  day  that  they  are  securely  nailed  on  with- 
out any  of  the  clenches  having  started  up  from  the  surface,  so  as 
to  endanger  the  other  leg. 

DRYNESS  or  THE  FEET  is  prevented  by  the  use  of  what  is  called 
stopping,  which  is  composed  either  of  cow-dung  alone,  or  cow-dung 
and  clay  mixed,  or  of  cow-dung  and  pitch.  The  first  is  by  far  the 
most  powerful  application,  but  it  moistens  the  sole  too  much  if 
employed  every  night,  and  then  produces  the  opposite  evil  in  the 
shape  of  thrush.  A  mixture  of  equal  parts  of  cow-dung  and  clay 
may  be  used  every  night  with  advantage,  and  this  I  believe  to  be 
the  best  of  all  stoppings.  It  should  be  kept  in  a  strong  box  of 
wood,  about  a  foot  long  and  eight  inches  wide,  with  a  handle  across 
the  top,  and  it  should  be  applied  the  last  thing  at  night  to  the  soles 
of  the  fore  feet  only,  by  means  of  a  thin  piece  of  wood,  a  foot  long 
and  a  couple  of  inches  wide,  with  which  the  space  within  the  shoe 
is  completely  stuffed.  If  the  feet  are  obstinately  dry,  in  spite  of 
repeated  stoppings  with  cow-dung  alone,  which  will  rarely  be  the 
case,  a  table-spoonful  of  salt  may  be  added  to  the  cow-dung,  and 
this  will  never  fail.  For  most  horses  stopping  with  cow-dung  alone 
once  a  week  is  sufficient,  but  the  groom  can  judge  for  himself,  by 
their  appearance,  of  the  number  of  stoppings  required.  If  three 
parts  of  cow-dung  and  one  of  clay  are  used,  the  feet  may  be  stopped 
twice  a  week,  or,  perhaps,  every  other  night,  and  if  equal  parts  of 
each  are  adopted  as  the  composition,  almost  any  feet  will  bear  being 
stopped  every  other  night,  with  the  exception  of  flat  or  pumiced 
soles,  which  should  never  be  stopped  at  all.  On  the  night  before 
shoeing,  every  horse,  even  if  he  has  flat  soles,  will  be  the  better  for 
having  his  feet  stopped,  the  application  softening  the  horn  so  as 
to  allow  the  smith  to  use  his  knife  to  slice  it  without  breaking  it 
into  crumbling  fragments.  Several  patents  have,  been  taken  out 
for  felt  pads,  to  be  soaked  in  water,  and  then  inserted  in  the  hollow 
of  the  shoe,  but  they  do  not  answer  nearly  so  well  as  cow  dung 
stopping,  which  has  far  more  emollient  qualities  than  mere  water.  I 
believe  nothing  has  yet  been  discovered  which  has  qualities  at  all 
equal  to  this  old-fashioned  natural  remedy. 

THRUSHES  are  prevented  by  keeping  the  frogs  free  from  ragged 
layers  of  the  elastic  substance  of  which  they  are  partly  composed, 
and  at  the  same  time  by  maintaining  a  dry  state  of  the  litter  on 
which  the  horse  stands.  I  am  not  now  considering  the  manage- 
ment of  the  horse  at  grass,  where  thrushes  are  generally  produced 
when  the  weather  is  very  wet,  or  when  the  pasture  is  of  too  marshy 
a  character,  but  the  frogs  of  the  stabled  horse,  which  ought  never 
to  be  allowed  to  be  so  moist  as  to  become  decomposed.  Some 
ulcerated  conditions  of  the  frog  which  are  still  considered  to  come 


MANAGEMENT  OF  THE  FEET.  199 

under  the  general  denomination  "  thrush,"  are  due  to  severe  in- 
ternal disease  of  the  bones  of  the  foot,  and  are  not  caused  by  mois- 
ture at  all.  Still  these  are  rare  exceptions,  and  the  ordinary  thrush 
of  the  stable  may  be  considered  as  invariably  caused  in  the  latter 
way.  Cases  are  also  occasionally  to  be  met  with,  in  which,  from 
general  grossness  of  the  system,  the  sensible  frog  throws  off  part 
of  its  horny  covering,  and  secretes  a  foul  matter  instead.  The 
management  of  these  diseased  conditions  comes  within  the  province 
of  the  veterinarian,  and  I  shall  therefore  not  enter  upon  its  con- 
sideration ;  but  the  prevention  of  the  mere  decomposition  of  the 
external  surface  by  moisture  is  a  part  of  the  duties  of  the  groom, 
and  so  is  the  application  of  the  proper  remedies  for  it,  as  soon  as 
the  nature  of  the  case  is  clearly  made  out.  Here  antiseptic  astrin- 
gents, which  are  quite  out  of  place  in  inflammatory  thrush,  are  the 
only  useful  applications,  and  by  their  means  alone  can  the  decom- 
position be  stopped.  Of  these  Sir  W.  Burnett's  solution  of  chloride 
of  zinc  is  the  best,  but  in  mild  cases,  Condy's  fluid,  which  is  the 
permanganate  of  potass,  will  answer  well,  and  is  not  so  poisonous 
in  its  nature  if  carelessly  left  about.  Friar's  Balsam,  with  as  much 
of  the  sulphate  of  zinc  dissolved  in  it  as  it  will  take  up,  is  the  old- 
fashioned  grooms'  remedy  for  thrush,  and  a  very  good  one  it  is  if 
carefully  insinuated  into  the  cleft  of  the  frog  on  a  piece  of  tow 
wetted  with  it.  The  grand  principle,  however,  is  to  prevent  thrush 
rather  than  to  cure  it,  but  when  horses  are  bought,  or  come  home 
from  grass  with  it,  the  curative  method  must  be  carried  out. 

THE  REMOVAL  OF  THE  SHOES  at  regular  intervals,  whether  they 
are  worn  out  or  not,  is  a  most  important  part  of  the  duties  of  the 
groom.  On  examining  the  shape  of  the  foot  it  will  be  seen  that 
the  diameter  of  the  circle  in  contact  with  the  shoe  is  greater  than 
that  of  the  coronet,  and  hence  as  the  shoe  is  forced  away  from  its 
original  position  by  the  growth  of  the  horn  it  confines  the  walls 
to  the  extent  of  the  difference  between  the  diameter  of  the  foot  at 
its  old  position  and  that  of  the  part  which  it  now  occupies.  For 
if  two  lines  from  the  surface  of  the  coronet  on  each  side  were 
continued  through  the  outside  surface  of  the  crust  to  the  new  seat 
of  the  shoe,  they  would  be  far  from  parallel,  and  yet  the  shoe  nails 
must  have  been  carried  on  in  perfect  parallel  lines  on  account  of 
the  unyielding  nature  of  iron.  For  this  reason  a  shoe,  when  it 
has  not  been  removed  at  the  end  of  a  month,  will  be  found  to  lie 
within  the  heel  of  one  side  or  the  other,  by  which  to  some  extent 
contraction  is  prevented,  but  at  the  expense  of  the  heel,  into 
which  the  corresponding  part  of  the  shoe  has  entered.  This  is  a 
frequent  cause  of  corns,  and  horses  which  have  once  been  subject 
to  that  disease  should  have  their  shoes  removed  once  a  fortnight. 

ONE  OF  THE  MOST  ANNOYING  ACCIDENTS  to  the  horseman  is 
the  loss  of  a  shoe,  whether  it  happens  in  the  hunting  field  or  on 


200  THE  HORSE.   - 

the  road.  Some  horses  can  scarcely  be  prevented  by  any  care  of 
their  grooms  from  pulling  off  a  shoe  in  hunting  when  they  get 
into  deep  ground,  but  on  the  road  there  is  no  such  excuse,  and  the 
frequent  loss  of  a  shoe  by  the  hack  or  harness-horse  is  sufficient 
to  condemn  the  groom  of  carelessness  in  this  particular.  Every 
morning  when  the  feet  are  picked  out  it  is  easy  to  look  the  shoes 
over  and  feel  if  they  are  tight.  The  clenches  also  ought  to  be 
examined,  and  if  they  are  not  raised  at  all  it  may  safely  be  predi- 
cated that  the  day's  journey  will  be  completed  without  the  shoe 
being  lost.  A  raised  clench  may  severely  cut  a  horse  on  the  inside 
of  the  other  leg,  and  in  those  who  are  predisposed  to  "speedy 
cut"  it  may  cause  severe  injury,  and  perhaps  occasion  a  fall  of  the 
most  dangerous  character. 

DAILY  EXERCISE. 

WITHOUT  REGULAR  EXERCISE  no  horse  can  long  be  kept  in 
health,  and  I  believe  that  as  far  as  this  point  is  concerned  even 
those  which  are  hard-worked  would  be  the  better  for  half  an 
hour's  airing  every  morning  as  soon  as  they  have  been  fed  and 
before  they  are  dressed.  But  those  masters  who  are  particular 
about  the  mouths  of  the  animals  they  ride  or  drive,  find  that  the 
hands  of  their  grooms  are  generally  so  heavy  that  they  spoil  the 
delicate  "  feel"  on  which  the  comfort  and  pleasure  of  riding  and 
driving  so  much  depends.  Hence  in  such  cases  the  poor  horse  is 
condemned  to  confinement  in  his  stable,  not  only  on  the  day  when 
he  is  to  be  ridden  or  driven,  but  on  those  also  when  he  is  to  be 
idle.  The  health  of  the  body  is  sacrificed  to  the  maintenance  of 
that  delicate  condition  of  the  mouth  which  is  so  highly  prized  by 
good  horsemen  and  accomplished  whips,  and  I  confess  that  I  plead 
guilty  to  having  for  a  long  series  of  years  acted  on  this  principle. 
A  fair  share  of  health  may  be  maintained  without  exercise  if  the 
work  is  never  interrupted  for  more  than  a  single  day,  and  at  the 
same  time  there  being  only  one  pair  of  hands  to  interfere  with 
the  mouth,  its  delicacy  is  not  impaired,  that  is  to  say  if  they  are 
not  as  bad  as  those  of  the  groom.  Sometimes  a  large  and  smooth 
snaffle  is  allowed  as  an  exercise  bridle,  in  the  hope  that  it  cannot 
injure  the  mouth,  but  even  this  will  do  mischief  if  the  weight  of 
the  rider  is  thrown  upon  it,  as  is  too  often  the  case.  Leaving  out 
of  the  question  this  objection  to  the  adoption  of  exercise,  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  a  daily  walk  out  of  doors  for  half  an  hour 
or  an  hour,  especially  if  it  can  be  managed  on  turf,  will  be  of  the 
greatest  service  to  the  horse's  health. 

PROPER  TEMPERATURE  OF  THE  STABLE. 

THERE  is  SCARCELY  ANY  POINT  upon  which  there  is  so  much 
difference  of  opinion,  as  in  relation  to  the  temperature  of  stables, 


PROPER  TEMPERATURE  OF  STABLE.  201 

Some  contend  for  an  amount  of  heat  which  would  raise  Fahren- 
heit's thermometer  to  65°  or  70°,  while  others  would  never  have 
their  stables,  if  they  could  help  it,  above  45°.  So  much  depends 
upon  the  kind  of  horse  in  them,  and  the  work  he  has  to  do,  that 
is  to  say,  whether  he  is  much  exposed  to  the  cold  or  not,  that  no 
rule  can  be  laid  down  which  is  applicable  to  all  stables,  but  I  be- 
lieve it  may  be  asserted  that  none  should  be  above  60°,  or  below 
50°,  if  it  can  be  avoided.  There  are  days  in  the  summer  season, 
when  the  air  out  of  doors  in  the  sn*ade  stands  at  90°  or  95°,  and, 
of  course,  in  such  weather,  it  is  impossible,  even  with  the  doors 
and  windows  wide  open,  to  keep  the  stable  at  a  lower  degree,  or 
even  within  several  points  of  those  above  stated.  So  also,  with  a 
thermometer  scarcely  above  zero,  it  will  be  difficult  to  keep  the 
air  wholesome,  and  yet  to  prevent  its  temperature  falling  lower 
than  45°,  which,  at  such  seasons,  feels  very  warm  to  those  who 
come  in  from  the  external  air.  But,  with  these  exceptions,  I 
think  the  rule  which  I  have  laid  down  is  a  good  one.  The  warmer 
the  stable,  the  better  the  coat  looks,  till  it  is  exposed  to  the 
weather,  and  even  if  it  is  so,  it  will  take  no  injury  if  the  horse  is 
kept  moving,  but  if  not,  it  soon  becomes  chilled,  and  not  only 
does  the  general  health  suffer,  but  the  appearance  also.  There  is, 
however,  another,  and  very  serious  objection  to  hot  stables,  con- 
sisting in  their  ill-effect  upon  the  legs  and  feet,  which  inflame 
much  more  readily  in  a  warm  atmosphere  than  in  a  cool  one.  I 
have  often  known  horses  stand  severe  rattling  for  months  together, 
while  standing  in  a  stable  which  was  so  cold  as  to  make  their  coats 
as  rough  as  badgers,  but  when  removed  to  warmer  quarters,  they 
have  at  once  gone  "  all  to  pieces/'  their  legs  or  feet  becoming  in- 
flamed from  missing  the  refrigerating  effect  of  cool  air  after  their 
daily  work.  The  body  may  easily  be  kept  warm  enough  by  extra 
clothing,  and,  if  necessary,  a  hood  and  breastplate  may  be  worn 
all  day  and  all  night,  but  not  even- wet  bandages  will  cool  the  legs 
•if  they  are  surrounded  by  hot  air.  On  the  whole,  therefore,  for 
the  private  gentleman's  stable,  including  those  for  hunters,  hacks, 
and  carriage  horses,  I  should  advise  a  regular  temperature  to  be 
preserved  as  near  55°  of  Fahrenheit  as  possible.  In  coming  in 
from  the  external  air  this  will  appear  very  warm  to  the  sensations, 
but  it  is  far  below  the  high  state  of  heat  at  which  many  of  our 
stables  were  kept,  until  within  the  last  few  years.  I  have  often 
known  70°  to  75°  of  Fahrenheit  insisted  on  as  the  lowest  which 
would  suffice  to  get  a  hunter  into  condition,  but  practice  proves 
the  reverse,  and  that  with  plenty  of  clothing  he  will  do  in  a  cool 
stable  of  the  temperature  I  have  recommended,  far  better  than  in 
one  possessing  a  higher  range.  The  celebrated  "  Nimrod"  (Mr. 
Apperley)  was  a  great  advoeate  for  a  hot  stable,  which  he  thought 
onght  never  to  be  reduced  much  below  70°  or  75°;  but  his 


202  THE  HORSE. 

opinions,  valuable  as  they  undoubtedly  are  in  the  main,  cannot  be 
looked  upon  as  in  all  points  to  be  relied  on. 

REMEDIES  FOR  STABLE  VICES  AND  BAD  HABITS. 

CRIB-BITING  is  a  diseased  condition  of  the  stomach,  for  which 
there  has  never  yet  been  a  cure  discovered,  except  on  the  princi- 
ple of  restraint.  It  may,  therefore,  be  considered  under  the  pre- 
sent head.  In  crib-biting  the  teeth  are  applied  to  some  fixed 
object — generally  the  manger,  so  as  to  afford  a  fulcrum  for  the 
muscles  of  the  neck  to  act  from,  and  by  preventing  this,  or  by 
contriving  so  that  the  contraction  of  the  muscles  of  the  neck  shall 
give  pain,  the  vicious  habit  is  got  rid  of  for  the  time.  The  most 
common  method  is  to  buckle  a  leather  strap  so  tightly  round  the 
neck,  just  behind  the  jaw,  that  when  the  horse  attempts  to  crib, 
he  tightens  the  muscles  of  that  part,  and  these  being  pressed 
against  the  strap,  occasion  such  pain  that  the  act  is  not  completely 
carried  out,  and  even  if  it  is  on  the  first  occasion,  the  attempt  is 
not  repeated.  The  strap  is  buckled  sufficiently  tight  to  do  this, 
without  much  impeding  the  act  of  swallowing,  or  the  flow  of 
blood  from  the  head,  through  the  jugular  veins  to  the  body;  but 
in  confirmed  cribbers  no  ordinary  pressure  will  suffice,  and  then 
the  head  often  becomes  affected  from  the  impediment  which  is 
caused  to  the  return  of  the  blood  from  the  brain  to  the  heart.  To 
remedy  this  defect  Mr.  Cook,  Saddler,  of  Long  Acre,  two  or  three 
years  ago,  invented  a  neck  strap,  containing  a  number  of  prongs, 
which  pass  through  holes  in  a  spring  guard,  and  unless  this  is 
strongly  pressed,  they  do  not  touch  the  skin.  It  is  applied  by 
throat  straps  to  an  ordinary  head  collar,  and  in  slight  cases  it  is 
found  to  answer  most  perfectly,  but  when  the  vice  has  become 
confirmed,  and  the  desire  to  indulge  in  it  is  very  strong,  the  pain 
occasioned  by  the  prongs  is  endured,  and  no  effect  at  all  is  pro- 
duced. It  is  not  therefore  of  much  use,  as  the  common  strap 
does  no  injury  in  those  cases  where  Mr.  Cook's  is  effectual,  and 
the  latter  will  not  avail  when  the  plain  strap  is  forbidden,  on  ac- 
count of  the  extreme  pressure  required.  I  cannot,  therefore,  re- 
commend any  plan  but  such  as  will  totally  prevent  the  prehension 
of  the  manger,  and  this  is  accomplished  by  one  of  two  ways.  In 
the  first  of  these,  the  manger  itself  is  either  concealed,  or  the 
corn  and  hay  are  placed  on  the  ground,  in  a  space  slightly  sepa- 
rated from  the  rest  of  the  stall  by  a  row  of  bricks,  or  other  similar 
bodies,  which  cannot  be  laid  hold  of.  To  the  concealed  manger 
and  rack  there  is  the  objection,  that  while  the  horse  is  feeding,  he 
can  go  on  cribbing  without  interruption,  and  as  this  is  the  time 
chiefly  chosen  for  the  act,  success  is  only  partly  achieved.  Plac- 
ing the  food  on  the  ground  is  entirely  successful  in  stopping  the 
habit,  but  it  leads  to  some  waste  of  provender,  as  the  horse  is  apt 


CRIBBING— KICKING. 


to  tread  upon  it,  after  which  he  will  refuse  to  eat  it.  By  far  the 
best  preventive,  in  my  opinion,  is  the  bar  muzzle,  consisting  in  an 
iron  frame  work,  covering  the  lips  and  nose,  and  suspended  from 
the  head  by  a  leather  head  collar,  so  that  the  lips  can  reach  the 


BAR  MUZZLE   FOR   CRIB-BITERS. 


corn  or  hay,  but  the  teeth  are  too  wide  to  pass  through  the  bars 
and  seize  the  manger.  This  mechanical  contrivance  is  entirely 
harmless,  and  perfectly  effectual,  the  sole  objection  to  it  being 
the  fact  that  it  proclaims  the  wearer  to  every  one  who  looks  into 
the  stable  as  a  cribber.  This  may  be  a  valid  reason  for  rejecting 
its  use  for  dealers'  horses,  but  in  a  gentleman's  stable,  utility  and 
humanity  ought  to  have  precedence  of  such  a  feeble  argument. 
When  the  bar  muzzle  is  adopted,  it  should  always  be  kept  on, 
excepting,  of  course,  when  the  bridle  replaces  it  for  work  or  exer- 
cise, or  while  the  head  is  being  dressed. 

KICKING  THE  WALL  OR  STALL  POST  is  sometimes  a  very  annoy- 
ing trick,  and  though  not  always  done  in  a  vicious  manner,  it  is 
objectionable,  because  the  kicker  is  liable  to  lame  himself,  or  one 
of  his  neighbors.  In  mares  it  is  often  of  a  sexual  nature,  and  in 
them  it  is  much  more  common  than  in  geldings, — the  extent  to 
which  it  is  carried  by  them  being  generally  greatest  at  the  begin- 
ning and  end  of  their  being  "  in  use."  At  such  times  some  mares 
go  almost  mad,  if  they  have  an  irritating  neighbor,  who  keeps 
smelling  them,  and  I  once  had  one  who  kicked  herself  to  pieces  in 
a  paroxysm  of  this  kind,  which  nothing  but  tying  up  the  fore- leg 
could  restrain.  There  are  several  remedies  in  common  use,  but 
none  can  be  relied  on  in  all  cases.  Foremost  among  these  is  the 


204  THE  HORSE. 

use  of  gorse,  nailed  to  the  stall-post,  which  will  almost  invariably 
quiet  a  low-bred  animal,  especially  if  a  gelding,  but  high-bred 
mares  will  sometimes  kick  at  it  all  the  more,  for  the  punishment 
they  receive.  A  padded  leather  strap,  buckled  round  the  canna 
bone,  with  a  common  sinker  attached  to  it,  or,  instead  of  this,  a 
few  links  of  heavy  chain,  will  generally  keep  the  horse  from  kick- 
ing, because  in  making  the  attempt  he  gives  his  coronet  and  pastern 
a  heavy  blow.  If,  however,  this  plan  is  unsuccessful,  it  is  liable  to 
cause  lameness,  from  the  inflammation  produced  by  the  blows, 
and,  therefore,  the  effect  must  be  carefully  watched.  Few  horses 
kick  out  with  both  legs,  and  a  pair  of  hobbles  buckled  round  the 
hind  fetlocks  will,  in  a  vast  majority  of  cases,  put  an  end  to  the 
trick  as  long  as  they  are  worn,  without  any  risk,  or  producing 
any  serious  annoyance,  save  only  what  is  inseparably  connected 
with  the  prohibition  of  the  indulgence  in  the  desire  to  kick.  A 
narrow  strap  buckled  round  the  part  just  above  the  hock,  so  as  to 
confine  the  ham  string,  will  have  the  desired  eifect,  by  giving  in- 
tense pain  when  any  attempt  to  strike  out  is  made,  but  is  a  most 
annoying  infliction  to  the  horse,  and  generally  prevents  his  lying 
down,  from  the  necessity  which  there  is  for  bending  the  hock,  in 
reaching  the  ground.  I  should,  therefore,  give  the  preference  to 
the  bunch  of  gorse,  or  if  that  is  not  readily  procurable,  to  the  sinker 
of  wood  or  iron  suspended  to  a  strap  round  the  leg. 

IN  SCRATCHING  THE  EAR  with  the  hind  foot,  the  horse  is  very 
apt  to  get  his  leg  over  the  collar  rein,  if  the  sinker  is  not  heavy 
enough  to  keep  the  rein  tightly  strained  between  the  head  collar 
and  the  ring  in  the  manger.  Impatient  animals,  also,  which  are 
continually  pawing  at  their  litter,  will  sometimes  get  one  of  their 
fore  feet  over  it,  but  this  is  not  so  serious  an  accident.  To  pre- 
vent the  mischief  occasioned  in  either  case  by  the  struggles  to  get 
free,  especially  when  the  hind  leg  is  thus  caught,  the  rings  for  the 
collar  reins  are  sometimes  made  to  draw  down  with  a  spring-catch, 
which  releases  them  when  pulled  in  that  direction,  but  in  no  other. 
When,  however,  the  sinker  is  properly  weighted,  it  is  almost  im- 
possible for  such  an  accident  to  occur ;  and  this  simple  invention 
has  now  become  obsolete. 

TEARING  THE  CLOTHES  OFF  is  by  no  means  an  unusual  stable 
h&bit,  and  it  is  one  very  difficult  to  cure.  There  are  two  effectual 
preventives,  however :  one  of  which  consists  in  the  regular  employ- 
ment of  a  rough  horsehair  cloth,  made  like  that  for  hops,  outside 
the  rug,  and  which  is  so  disagreeable  to  the  teeth,  that  no  horse 
will  attempt  to  tear  it ;  the  other  is  carried  out  by  means  of  a  pole 
of  ash,  about  three-quarters  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  with  an  iron 
eye  attached  to  each  end.  One  of  these  is  fastened,  by  means  of 
a  short  leathern  strap  and  buckle,  to  the  side  of  the  roller-pad, 


STABLE  VICES.  205 

while  the  other  has  a  strap  or  chain  about  a  foot  long,  which 
attaches  it  to  the  head  collar.  The  pole  should  reach  about  fifteen 
inches  beyond  the  point  of  the  shoulder,  and  it  should  be  fixed  on 
the  side  which  is  generally  uppermost  when  the  horse  lies  down, 
so  as  not  to  be  under  him  in  that  position.  It  is  a  very  simple  and 
cheap  apparatus,  and  any  village  blacksmith  can  make  and  apply 
it.  The  following  engraving  will  illustrate  my  meaning  better  than 
the  most  detailed  description  without  it. 


REMEDY  FOR  TEARING  THE  CLOTHES. 


WEAVING  is  a  mark  of  an  irritable  nervous  system,  beyond 
which  it  is  harmless,  but  quite  incurable.  It  consists  in  a  perpetual 
moving  of  the  head  from  one  side  of  the  manger  to  the  other,  with 
an  action  like  that  of  a  wild  beast  in  his  den.  The  constant  friction 
soon  wears  out  the  collar-reins  when  there  are  two,  and  on  that 
account  a  single  rein  may  be  adopted  in  this  particular  instance 
with  advantage. 

EATING  THE  LITTER  is  a  peculiar  appetite,  which  chiefly  occurs 
either  in  those  horses  which  are  kept  short  of  hay  on  account  of 
their  tendency  to  fatten,  or  when  the  animal  possessing  it  has  been 
18 


206  THE  HORSE. 

stabled  for  a  very  long  time  together  and  requires  a  change.  In 
the  former  case  nothing  but  the  muzzle  will  be  of  the  slightest 
service,  but  in  the  latter  a  run  at  grass,  or  soiling  indoors  for  a 
month  or  two,  will  remedy  the  disorder  of  the  stomach.  Rock  salt 
in  the  manger  will  sometimes  have  the  desired  effect,  producing  a 
degree  of  thirst  which  will  make  dry  litter  distasteful. 

KICKING  AND  BITING  savagely  are  marks  of  actual  vice,  and 
scarcely  come  within  the  limits  of  the  present  section.  Still  the 
groom  must  know  how  to  guard  against  them  in  the  best  way,  so 
as  to  save  himself  from  danger  without  unnecessarily  punishing  the 
horse.  There  are  some  animals  which  cannot  be  effectually  re- 
strained without  severity,  but  on  the  average,  kindness  and  firm- 
ness united  will  overcome  any  horse.  Sometimes  it  is  necessary 
to  put  on  the  muzzle  while  the  dressing  is  going  on,  but  this  is 
chiefly  because  the  skin  is  so  irritable  that  the  brush  or  whisp 
excite  sensations  which  lead  to  the  use  of  the  teeth  or  hind  legs 
to  prevent  their  recurrence.  In  such  cases  as  these  Mr.  Rarey's 
method  of  subduing  a  savage  horse  is  extremely  valuable. 

PREPARATION  FOR  WORK. 

I  HAVE  ALREADY  OBSERVED  that  these  pages  are  not  in- 
tended to  serve  as  a  guide  for  the  trainer  of  the  race-horse,  and 
that  they  chiefly  apply  to  the  management  of  the  hunter,  hack, 
and  carriage-horse  belonging  to  the  private  gentleman.  The  de- 
scription of  the  mode  of  preparation  for  work  will  therefore  include 
the  mode  of  fitting  the  hunter  for  his  duties,  and  of  getting  the 
hack  and  carriage-horse  into  condition,  from  the  state  in  which 
they  are  usually  first  brought  into  the  stable,  either  from  grass  or 
the  dealer's  hands. 

IN  THE  PRESENT  DAY,  THE  HUNTER  is  prepared  almost  as  care- 
fully as  the  race-horse  or  steeple-chaser,  when  he  is  intended  for 
any  of  the  grass  countries.  Nothing  short  of  a  regular  preparation 
will  enable  a  horse  to  go  through  a  fast  thing  in  Northamptonshire 
or  Leicestershire,  and  no  man  in  his  senses  would  ride  a  horse 
there  in  the  front  rank,  unless  he  was  thoroughly  fit.  The  stud- 
groom,  therefore,  requires  for  his  purpose  a  training-ground  where 
he  can  give  his  horses  their  sweats,  without  which  it  would  be 
impossible  to  get  them  into  condition.  A  very  large  space  is  not 
necessary,  but  a  very  small  one  will  not  suffice,  the  constant  turning 
incidental  to  a  limited  gallop  producing  a  great  strain  upon  the 
joints.  If  possible  a  gallop  measuring  at  least  a  mile  and  a  half 
or  two  miles  in  circumference  should  be  obtained,  and  with  this 
length,  including  a  moderate  rise  in  its  extent  so  as  to  open  the 
horse's  pipes  well  at  the  finish  of  the  sweat,  it  is  the  groom's  fault 
if  his  charge  is  not  brought  out  thoroughly  fit  when  the  hunting 
season  commences.  Of  course,  when  making  this  assertion,  I  am 


PREPARATION  FOR  WORK.  207 

calculating  that  he  has  been  allowed  sufficient  time,  which  will 
depend  greatly  upon  the  state  in  which  he  finds  his  horses  in 
August.  If  they  have  been  at  grass,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  get 
them  ready  by  the  middle  of  November,  but  a  well  summered 
horse  soiled  in  a  loose-box  with  a  proper  allowance  of  corn,  may 
be  thoroughly  prepared  by  that  time  if  he  is  set  to  work  by  the 
middle  of  August.  This  will  allow  of  two  clear  preparations,  with 
an  intervening  week  for  cooling  physic.  Should  the  horse  be  up 
from  grass,  another  month  or  six  weeks  at  least  will  be  required, 
which  must  be  employed  in  giving  him  nothing  but  walking  exer- 
cise, with  a  dose  of  physic  at  the  beginning,  and  repeated  at  the 
end  of  three  weeks  or  a  month.  Horses  at  grass  in  the  summer 
are  seldom  allowed  any  corn,  and  the  change  from  grass  to  the 
more  stimulating  food  of  the  stable  must  be  made  gradually,  or 
some  of  the  important  organs  will  assuredly  fail.  Hence  the 
necessity  for  extra  time,  and  the  addition  which  I  have  made  to 
the  calculated  period  for  conditioning  a  hunter  summered  indoors, 
is  barely  sufficient  for  this  purpose,  when  he  is  full  of  grass  or  of 
tbe  fattening  food  which  is  given  to  make  him  up  for  the  dealers. 
In  either  case  great  care  and  some  experience  are  necessary  in 
altering  the  entire  management  of  the  animal,  so  as  to  give  him 
corn  and  exercise  enough  to  prepare  his  frame  gradually  for  the 
strains  which  it  will  have  to  bear  in  the  hunting  field,  without 
producing  inflammation.  With  all  the  objections  which  I  hold  to 
physic,  I  must  confess  that  here  I  think  it  to  be  indispensable ; 
and  invariably,  as  soon  as  a  raw  horse  is  settled  in  the  stable,  I 
should  get  him  thoroughly  cleaned  out  before  I  began  to  give  him 
hay  and  corn.  I  have  always  found  it  advantageous  just  to  allow 
a  couple  of  days  to  elapse  before  giving  the  physic,  which  will 
serve  to  fill  the  large  bowels  with  the  new  kind  of  food.  A  mash 
should  then  be  administered  at  night,  and  repeated  if  necessary  till 
it  has  had  the  desired  effect  in  softening  the  dung,  when  the  physic 
may  be  given.  Two  or  three  days  will  elapse  before  it  has  set 
sufficiently  to  allow  of  walking  exercise  ;  but  as  soon  as  this  can  be 
ordered  with  safety,  the  horse  should  be  walked  out  twice  a  day 
for  an  hour  and  a  half  each  time,  or  two  hours  in  the  morning  and 
one  in  the  evening,  whichever  may  be  preferred.  The  division  of 
the  exercise  into  two  periods  is  far  better  than  keeping  the  green 
horse  out  for  so  long  a  time  as  three  hours,  which  will  make  him 
weary ;  whereas,  the  shorter  period  will  not  tire  any  horse,  and  a 
mid-day  rest  will  restore  his  whole  frame,  and  enable  him  to  go 
out  again  in  the  evening  as  cheerfully  as  ever.  I  need  scarcely 
observe  that  the  shoes  should  be  attended  to,  and  the  feet  put  in 
proper  order,  for  three  hours'  walking  exercise  in  ill-fitting  shoes 
will  do  great  harm,  especially  to  feet  that  are  not  accustomed  to 
their  pressure.  By  persevering  with  steady  slow  work,  and  feeding 


208  THE  HORSE. 

on  a  moderate  allowance  of  hay  and  corn,  the  latter  not  exceeding 
two  feeds  at  first  and  three  at  the  end  of  the  month,  the  horse  will 
be  ready  by  the  middle  of  August  to  have  a  second  dose  of  physic, 
after  which  he  may  commence  in  earnest  his  first  real  preparation. 
This  also  is  chiefly  confined  to  slow  work,  but  if  the  horse  is  gross 
he  may  have  in  the  course  of  the  four  or  five  weeks  to  which  it 
extends,  one  or  two  sweats  of  moderate  length  and  speed.  Great 
caution  must  always  be  exercised  by  the  groom  at  this  time  ;  on  no 
account  should  any  fast  work  be  given,  unless  he  is  satisfied  that 
his  horse  is  in  perfect  health  and  in  good  spirits.  Every  increase 
in  the  food  and  work  should  be  carefully  watched,  and  its  effects 
noted,  so  as  to  guide  him  in  deciding  whether  he  can  venture  to 
take  another  step.  It  must  be  remembered  that  hitherto  the  feeds 
of  corn  have  been  only  three  quarterns  of  oats  daily,  and  the  exer- 
cise has  not  extended  beyond  a  walk  j  but  during  the  next  few 
weeks  the  former  must  be  doubled,  or  nearly  so,  and  the  latter  must 
go  on  into  a  daily  slow  trot  of  two  or  three  miles  on  turf,  with  an 
occasional  steady  gallop  in  place  of  this,  and,  as  I  have  before 
remarked,  one  or  two  sweats  if  the  system  is  overloaded  with  fat. 
But  unless  the  hunter  is  very  fleshy,  nothing  more  than  slow  trots 
and  canters  will  be  required  until  after  the  next  dose  of  physic. 
The  increase  in  the  quantity  of  corn  will  seldom  tend  to  put  on 
fat,  and  as  the  amount  of  hay  should  be  small,  not  exceeding  lOlbs. 
a  day,  unless  the  horse  is  gross  in  his  nature,  he  will  have  put  on 
muscle,  and  lost  some  of  the  internal  fat  which  is  so  prejudicial  to 
condition. 

THE  OBJECT  OF  THE  SWEATING  PROCESS  is  to  remove  super- 
fluous fatty  matters,  which  act  prejudicially  in  a  twofold  manner. 
In  the  first  place  the  fat  itself  is  so  much  dead  weight  to  carry, 
and  on  the  calculation  that  seven  pounds  are  equal  to  a  distance  in 
an  average  length  of  race,  it  may  readily  be  understood  that  the 
huge  quantity  of  adipose  tissue,  which  is  carried  by  a  fat  horse, 
will,  by  its  weight  alone,  retard  any  attempt  at  high  speed.  But, 
not  only  is  fat  to  be  objected  to  on  this  score  ;  for  it  is  also  known 
by  experience,  that  its  pressure  on  the  important  internal  organs, 
when  it  is  deposited  around  them,  interferes  with  the  proper  per- 
formance of  their  several  functions.  .  The  muscles  of  the  limbs, 
when  they  are  marbled  with  fat,  as  we  see  them  in  the  slaughtered 
ox  and  sheep,  are  unable  to  contract  vigorously,  but  when  a  simi- 
lar condition  occurs  in  the  muscular  tissue  of  which  the  heart  is 
composed,  violent  exertions  are  interdicted,  or,  if  they  are  attempted, 
they  are  attended  with  dangerous  and  often  fatal  results.  Again, 
it  is  ascertained  that  sweating  has  a  local,  as  well  as  a  general 
effect,  and  that,  by  producing  a  copious  discharge  of  fluid  from  the 
skin  covering  any  particular  part,  there  will  be  a  removal  of  any 
superfluous  fat  which  may  be  lodged  beneath  it,  before  the  rest  of 


SWEATING.  209 

the  body  is  perceptibly  acted  on.  Hence,  when  the  groom  thinks 
that  his  horse  is  loaded  with  fat  about  the  heart,  he  puts  on  extra 
"  sweaters"  over  that  part,  or  on  the  contrary,  if  his  object  is  to 
unload  the  ridge  of  dense  adipose  membrane,  which  constitutes  a 
high  crest,  he  puts  on  two  or  three  extra  hoods,  and  sweats  chiefly 
in  that  region  of  the  body.  The  local  effect  of  these  partial 
sweats  is,  perhaps,  a  good  deal  overrated,  but  undoubtedly  there  is 
some  foundation  for  the  general  belief.  The  use  of  clothing  for 
sweating  is  not  nearly  so  frequent  as  it  used  to  be,  even  in  racing 
stables,  and  horses  are  not  now  drawn  so  fine,  by  a  great  deal,  as 
they  were  twenty  or  thirty  years  ago.  At  that  time  runners  in 
the  Derby,  or  in  any  other  great  race,  when  they  were  saddled, 
looked  like  living  skeletons,  and  to  an  eye  unaccustomed  to  the 
hard  lines  presented  by  their  limbs,  the  beauty  of  their  forms  was 
entirely  gone.  Now  a  different  system  prevails  ;  the  object  is  not 
to  reduce  the  horse  as  much  as  he  will  bear,  but  to  bring  him  out 
as  big  as  he  can  be,  consistently  with  good  wind.  The  celebrated 
trainer,  John  Scott,  has  shown  what  can  be  done  in  this  way,  and 
his  example  is  now  generally  followed.  So  also  with  hunters, 
although  they  are  often  required  to  do  more,  perhaps,  than  any 
other  variety  of  the  horse,  and  in  the  grass  countries  are  made  as 
fit  as  if  they  were  going  to  run  in  a  steeplechase,  yet  they  are 
brought  to  covert  looking  big  and  full  of  muscle,  without  any 
pretensions  to  be  considered  as  drawn  fine.  Still  the  sweat,  either 
in  clothes  or  without  them,  must  be  occasionally  carried  out,  or  the 
internal  organs  will  continue  loaded  with  fat,  as  is  natural  to  them 
when  they  have  been  for  some  time  in  a  state  of  rest,  coupled  with 
high  feeding.  The  use  and  amount  of  sweaters  must  be  propor- 
tioned to  the  constitutional  peculiarities  of  the  individual ;  in  one 
horse  a  slow  gallop  will  produce  a  perfect  lather  on  the  skin,  while 
in  another  treated  in  all  respects  in  the  same  way,  there  shall  be 
hardly  a  hair  turned.  So  also  the  effect  of  apparently  the  same 
degree  of  sweating  on  different  horses  is  very  variable,  producing 
a  great  relief  in  one  case,  and  scarcely  any  in  another.  The  groom 
must  not  attempt  to  carry  out  any  fixed  rule,  but  must  watch  the 
effect  of  each  day's  work,  and  increase  or  diminish  the  amount 
noxt  day  according  to  circumstances. 

As  i  BEFORE  REMARKED,  a  sweat  may  be  with  clothes  or  with- 
out, the  object  in  each  case  being  not  so  much  to  do  a  certain 
amount  of  work,  but  to  get  rid  of  a  fixed  quantity  of  superfluous 
fat  and  humors.  On  the  other  hand,  a  gallop  has  quite  the  oppo- 
site end  in  view,  being  intended  to  brace  the  muscles,  heart,  blood- 
vessels and  lungs,  by  stimulating  them  to  act  in  an  extraordinary 
degree,  but  without  any  view  to  reduce  the  weight  of  the  body  or 
any  part  of  it.  In  a  sweat,  therefore,  the  pace  is  slow  and  long 
continued ;  no  exertion  is  made  to  render  it  smart,  or  to  develop 
18*  o 


210  THE  HORSE. 

action  in  any  shape,  the  whole  attention  of  the  groom  being  devoted 
to  the  single  object  which  is  connected  with  the  removal  of  fat. 
It  is  usual,  therefore,  to  send  the  horse  along  at  a  slow,  steady, 
hand-gallop  for  four  miles,  or  in  very  gross  animals  for  five  or  six, 
the  last  half  mile  only  being  done  at  anything  like  a  fast  pace,  and 
even  then  the  horse  should  not  be  extended  to  the  utmost,  on 
account  of  the  great  extra  weight  he  has  to  carry,  if  he  has  two  or 
three  sweating  blankets  on.  It  is  quite  necessary  to  bear  in  mind 
this  special  object  of  the  sweat,  inasmuch  as  it  has  lately  become 
the  fashion  to  sweat  without  either  clothing  or  exercise,  by  means 
of  the  Turkish  bath.  The  opponents  of  this  practice  contend  that 
it  can  never  supersede  the  old  plan,  because,  though  it  will  get  rid 
of  superfluities,  it  will  not  develop  muscle ;  but  they  forget  that  it 
is  not  used  for  the  latter  purpose,  but  is  solely  confined  to  the  one 
object,  which  by  the  employment  of  sweating  blankets  out  of  doors 
is  accompanied  with  considerable  risk.  The  Turkish  bath  is,  in 
fact,  a  means  to  one  end  only,  and  must  not  be  employed  for  any 
other.  No  horse  could  have  hie  muscles  and  heart,  his  wind  and 
limbs,  made  more  wiry  and  enduring  than  before  by  any  number  of 
baths;  but  he  may  be  put  into  a  condition  which  shall  fit  him  for 
being  so,  without  the  risk  to  the  legs  and  feet  which  a  number  of 
sweats  in  heavy  clothing  will  always  cause.  No  wonder,  therefore, 
that  trainers  eagerly  resort  to  the  use  of  the  bath,  especially  as 
every  year  their  horses  seem  to  be  getting  more  and  more  liable  to 
break  down.  It  is  quite  true  that  the  old  fashioned  sweat  com- 
bines muscular  exercise  with  the  process  of  unloading  the  system, 
but  in  so  doing,  the  time  of  the  groom  is  the  only  thing  saved,  and 
no  one  would  take  that  into  the  calculation,  as  being  worthy  of 
consideration.  In  the  new  mode,  when  he  is  too  gross,  the  horse 
is  sweated  on  one  day,  and  on  the  next  he  may  be  galloped,  if 
necessary,  the  bath  producing  so  little  fatigue,  that  he  may  have 
any  amount  of  exercise  directly  after  it,  to  which  he  is  accustomed. 
Newmarket  trainers  are  not  very  easily  induced  to  adopt  a  novelty, 
but  many  of  them  have  made  up  their  minds  as  to  the  advantages 
of  the  bath,  and  several  of  those  who  are  to  be  regarded  as  the 
highest  authorities,  have  erected  one  on  their  premises.  In  resort- 
ing to  the  bath  at  first  the  attempt  was  made  to  save  doubtful  legs 
only,  but  the  good  effect  was  soon  found  to  extend  beyond  this,  and 
in  almost  all  cases  where  there  would  be  any  necessity  for  sweats 
and  clothing,  the  Turkish  bath  is  adopted  instead,  by  those  who 
have  the  means  at  their  disposal.  I  shall,  therefore,  describe  each 
of  these  plans  in  detail. 

ORDINARY  SWEATING. 

WHEN  THE  OLD  FASHIONED  SWEAT  is  intended  to  be  given,  and 
it  is  not  proposed  to  reduce  any  part  in  particular,  it  is  usual  to 


SWEATING.  211 

put  on  an  old  rug  next  the  skin,  or,  in  large  stables,  a  sheet  kept  ex- 
pressly for  the  purpose,  and  hence  called  a  u  sweater ;"  then  an 
old  hood  and  breast-cloth,  next  a  second  quarter-piece  is  put  on, 
and  even  a  third  in  some  cases,  and  lastly,  a  complete  set  of  clothing 
over  all,  the  saddle,  as  usual,  completing  the  arrangement.  If  any 
special  part  is  to  be  reduced,  as,  for  instance,  the  brisket  or  bosom, 
an  extra  cloth  is  folded  like  a  shawl,  and  the  ends  being  crossed 
over  the  withers,  it  is  kept  in  its  place  under  the  breast-cloth,  by 
the  pressure  of  the  saddle ;  or  a  rug  may  be  folded  and  placed 
round  the  chest,  without  extending  to  the  loins,  in  case  the  heart 
is  supposed  to  be  oppressed  with  fat.  All  these  points  of  detail 
will  call  upon  the  groom  for  an  exercise  of  ingenuity  and  tact,  and 
if  he  possesses  these  qualities,  he  will  have  no  difficulty  in  placing 
his  sweaters  where  they  will  be  required.  When  they  are  all 
securely  fixed  the  horse  is  ridden  out,  and  after  walking  for  a  short 
time  to  empty  himself,  he  is  started  off  to  go  his  sweat,  which  is 
generally  four  miles,  doing  three  quarters  of  the  distance  at  a  slow 
pace,  and  then  being  set  going  a  little  faster,  and  at  last  brought 
out  to  his  top-speed,  if  in  full  training,  or  nearly  so  if  in  his  second 
preparation.  By  his  top-speed,  however,  is  not  to  be  understood 
the  very  outside  pace  which  can  be  got  out  of  the  horse,  but  only 
such  a  speed  as  is  short  of  that  by  so  much  as  will  preserve  his 
stride  in  full  vigor,  and  prevent  that  over-pacing  which  leads  to 
the  rupture  of  muscular  or  tendinous  structure.  In  his  first  prepa- 
ration he  should  seldom  be  extended,  and  it  is  better  to  increase 
the  distance  rather  than  to  accelerate  the  speed  beyond  the  steady 
gallop  j  but  few  horses  refuse  to  sweat  at  a  slow  pace  in  this  stage 
of  training. 

As  SOON  as  he  has  finished  the  distance,  the  trainer  examines 
his  state,  and  either  directs  him  to  be. walked  or  trotted  on  to  the 
rubbing  place,  which  should  be  a  box  set  apart  for  the  purpose, 
either  on  the  training-ground  or  at  the  usual  stables ;  or  if  the 
ground  is  at  a  distance  from  any  available  stable,  the  shelter  of  a 
haystack  or  high  hedge  should  be  sought  for.  The  full  benefit  of 
the  sweat  is  not  obtained  unless  the  fluid  is  scraped  off  before  it 
has  had  time  to  be  re-absorbed,  which  is  the  result,  if  it  is  allowed  to 
remain  on  the  skin  after  this  has  ceased  to  give  out  any  fluid.  Its 
vessels  in  that  case,  instead  of  perspiring,  adopt  the  opposite  ex- 
treme, and  appropriate  the  sweat  by  their  own  power  of  absorption  ] 
thus  doing  away  with  the  chief  benefit  which  was  expected  and 
desired  from  the  sweat  itself.  When  the  hand  of  the  groom,  ap- 
plied to  the  shoulder  of  the  horse  under  his  breast-cloth,  tells  him 
that  the  sweat  is  coming  kindly,  the  horse  may  have  a  couple  of 
rugs  heaped  upon  him,  and  be  suffered  to  give  out  fluid  for  a  very 
few  minutes  only;  but  if  it  does  not  break  out  at  once,  three  or  four 
must  be  put  on  him,  and  he  must  wait  a  quarter  of  an  hour  or 


212  THE  HORSE. 

twenty  minutes  before  he  is  fit  to  scrape.  If  he  sweats  freely,  the 
groom  in  charge  of  his  head  may  rub  his  ears  and  wipe  his  eyes, 
so  as  to  refresh  him  slightly;  but  if  there  is  any  difficulty  in  bring- 
ing on  the  sweat  this  will  only  retard  the  process,  and  he  may  be 
allowed  to  stand  quite  quietly,  and  without  any  attempt  to  refresh 
him  by  the  above  little  attentions,  or  by  rubbing  his  legs,  or  wiping 
his  thighs  or  bosom.  As  soon  as  the  groom  is  satisfied,  the  hood 
is  taken  off,  and  the  head  and  neck  rapidly  scraped,  together  with 
the  bosom,  from  which  the  breast-cloth  is  removed,  and  the  rugs  and 
quarter-piece  turned  back  so  as  to  expose  the  whole  neck  and  the 
points  of  the  shoulders.  One  or  two  strappers  may  be  employed 
in  scraping  and  afterwards  drying  this  part,  besides  the  one  holding 
the  bridle;  but  if  the  horse  is  quiet  enough,  this  may  be  removed, 
and  the  head  dressed  all  the  more  effectually.  A  very  few  minutes 
suffice  for  drying  this  half  of  the  horse,  when  the  bridle  should  be 
readjusted,  and  the  quarter-piece  and  sweaters  wholly  turned  off" 
over  the  croup ;  upon  this  the  strappers  again  set  to  work  with  their 
scrapers  and  rubbers,  they  soon  get  rid  of  every  particle  of  sweat, 
and  have  the  coat  perfectly  dry  and  smooth.  Much  depends  upon 
the  stage  of  training;  in  the  early  part,  the  sweat  is  profuse,  thick, 
and  soapy,  and  takes  more  time  to  dry;  while  in  the  latter  stages, 
when  the  horse  is  getting  fit,  it  is  watery  and  scanty,  the  horse  will 
scarcely  scrape,  and  dries  without  the  slightest  trouble.  This  is  a 
good  sign  of  condition,  and  the  necessity  for  a  repetition  of  the 
sweat  may  generally  be  gathered  by  the  appearance  of  the  fluid, 
which,  when  thick  and  lathery,  shows  that  there  is  much  gross  fat 
in  the  system  requiring  removal ;  but,  nevertheless,  it  also  shows 
that  great  care  must  be  taken  in  the  process,  lest  mischief  should 
be  done,  by  calling  upon  nature  too  rapidly  while  the  animal  is  in 
this  fat  state,  and  liable  to  inflammation  of  all  kinds.  After  rub- 
bing all  the  coat  dry,  and  smoothing  it  down  with  the  leather 
rubber,  the  usual  clothing  should  be  put  on,  and  the  horse  allowed 
his  exercise,  which  he  may  have  as  usual,  care  being  taken  that 
he  does  not  catch  cold  if  the  weather  is  severe.  The  reason  why 
the  horse  is  taken  out  again  is,  that  if  he  were  left  in  the  warm 
stable  he  would  break  out  into  a  second  sweat,  and  if  he  were  placed 
in  a  cool  one  he  would  surely  take  cold.  Walking  exercise,  there- 
fore, with  a  short  canter,  is  adopted  as  a  means  of  avoiding  both 
of  these  injurious  conditions;  but  he  should  not  continue  it  longer 
than  to  put  him  into  a  cool  state,  and  restore  his  nerves  and  blood- 
vessels to  their  usual  condition.  The  length  of  ground  and  pace 
for  sweating  vary  with  the  age,  condition,  and  purpose  for  which 
the  horse  is  trained,  the  maximum  length  being  six  miles,  and  the 
minimum  two  to  three,  with  a  speed  varying  with  every  individual 
case,  and  depending  upon  the  age,  breed,  and  action  of  the  horse, 
as  well  as  his  constitution  and  legs,  and  the  state  of  preparation  in 


THE  TURKISH  BATH.  213 

which  he  is.  Sweats  are  given  at  periods  varying  from  once  a 
week  to  once  a  fortnight  after  the  first  preparation,  but  seldom  so 
often  during  that  time.  When  sweats  are  given  without  clothing, 
they  are  in  other  respects  just  the  same  as  described  above,  and 
the  strappers  are  required  in  a  similar  way  to  dry  the  horse  at 
once  'y  but  the  quantity  of  sweat  is  not  nearly  so  great,  and  two 
good  hands  will  generally  suffice  for  the  purpose.  In  almost  all 
cases,  even  where  clothing  is  not  used,  it  is  heaped  on  when  th« 
horse  is  taken  into  the  stable,  in  order  to  encourage  the  flow  of 
perspiration. 

THE  TURKISH  BATH. 

THE  TURKISH  BATH  when  employed  for  horses,  requhes  two 
boxes  to  be  prepared,  contiguous  to  each  other,  and,  if  economy  is 
an  object,  to  the  saddle-room  also,  in  order  that  one  fire  shall  serve 
for  all.  The  annexed  plan  has  been  carried  out  on  this  principle, 
the  fire-place  A  being  placed  in  the  saddle-room,  and  heating  it,  as 
well  as  a  boiler  for  hot  water.  It  is  sunk  eighteen  inches  beneath 
the  floor  of  the  saddle-room,  so  as  to  allow  of  the  commencement 
of  the  flue  at  B  entering  the  bath-room,  with  its  bottom  two  feet 
from  the  floor  of  that  apartment,  and  to  pass  beneath  the  final  exit 
of  the  flue,  as  it  leaves  to  enter  the  chimney  at  F.  The  flue  is 
supported  on  arches,  clear  of  the  wall,  from  B  to  C  rising  two 
inches  in  the  foot,  so  that  when  it  reaches  the  corner  C,  its  bottom 
is  four  feet  from  the  ground.  It  is  built  exactly  like  the  usual 
flue  of  a  hot-house,  with  dampers,  and  all  the  arrangements  pecu- 
liar to  that  apparatus.  From  C  to  D  it  may  be  either  on  arches, 
or  supported  on  slate  built  into  the  wall,  as  the  heat  is  from  thia 
point  not  sufficient  to  crack  that  material.  At  D  the  bottom  is 
about  six  feet  high,  and  when  it  reaches  the  entrance  B,  it  will 
give  plenty  of  head  room  for  a  horse  to  pass  beneath.  On  this 
side  it  is  built  in  the  wall,  but  still  on  arches  so  as  to  expose  as 
large  a  radiating  surface  as  possible,  and  serves  to  heat  the  other 
box  H  to  the  temperature  required  to  prepare  the  horse  for  his 
sweat.  Finally,  it  passes  along  the  upper  part  of  the  fourth  wall, 
in  which  also  it  is  built  in  the  same  manner,  and  makes  its  exit 
over  the  part  where  it  entered,  at  F.  Here  the  flues  are  so  arranged 
by  dampers,  that  the  current  of  warm  air  may  either  be  directed 
along  the  flue  B  C  D  E  F,  or  it  may  be  turned  off  into  the  chim- 
ney F,  entirely  or  partially.  Ventilators  must  be  introduced  freely 
in  the  walls,  so  as  to  give  plenty  of  fresh  air  when  it  is  required, 
or  to  shut  it  off  completely,  to  raise  the  temperature  to  the  proper 
degree  before  the  horse  is  admitted.  One  or  two  valves,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  door  I,  all  capable  of  being  opened  and  closed  at  will, 
must  also  be  fixed  in  the  wall,  between  the  boxes  G  and  H,  and 
by  their  means,  added  to  the  heat  given  off  by  the  flue  in  it,  this 
preparatory-box  may  be  heated  to  80°  or  90°  of  Fahrenheit,  so  as 


214 


THE  HORSE. 


to  bring  on  a  gentle  action  of  the  skin,  before  the  horse  is  intro- 
duced to  the  actual  sweating-box — Gr.  The  preparatory-box,  H, 
maybe  fitted  up  like  a  common  loose  box,  and  may  be  used  as 
such,  whenever  the  bath  is  not  required,  but  the  latter  should  have 


THE  TURKISH  BATH.  215 

no  manger  or  any  other  projecting  body  of  metal,  for  when  the 
heat  is  raised  to  160°,  the  contact  with  the  teeth  and  tongue  is  by 
no  means  pleasant.  Tan  forms  the  best  material  for  the  floor,  or,  if 
this  cannot  readily  be  obtained,  sawdust  will  answer  nearly  as  well, 
if  the  wetted  parts  are  changed  after  each  bath.  A  brick  floor 
feels  too  warm  to  the  feet,  and  when  the  bath  is  given  very  hot,  it 
may  injure  them,  if  uncovered  by  some  non-conductor  of  heat,  so 
that  it  is  better  to  avoid  all  risk,  by  using  tan  or  sawdust.  With 
this  apparatus  in  working  order,  and  the  fire  lighted  in  the  stove 
A,  the  box  H  is  heated  to  80°  or  90°  of  Fahrenheit,  by  robbing 
Gr  of  its  warm  air  through  the  open  door  I,  and  the  valves  in  the 
wall  between  the  two  to  which  I  have  already  alluded.  As  soon 
as  this  is  prepared,  the  horse  is  brought  into  it  with  his  clothing 
on,  and  allowed  to  remain  for  a  short  time,  which  may  be  twenty 
minutes,  half  an  hour,  or  an  hour,  according  to  the  state  of  his 
skin,  and  the  warmth  of  the  box.  As  soon  as  he  is  settled  in  it, 
the  clothes  may  all  be  removed,  and  here  he  may  remain,  with  a 
whisp  of  hay  in  the  rack,  to  amuse  him,  and  chilled  water  in  the 
tank,  till  his  skin  shows  evident  symptoms  of  breaking  out,  and  the 
bath  is  prepared,  that  is,  until  the  latter  is  raised  to  a  temperature 
of  140°  at  the  least.  To  effect  this  the  door  I  and  the  adjacent 
valves  may  have  been  closed,  if  necessary;  for  a  small  box  once 
raised  to  80°  or  90°,  will  keep  its  temperature  with  the  horse  in  it 
for  the  time  which  is  required.  The  groom  must  be  careful  not 
on  any  account  to  take  his  charge  into  the  bath  till  his  skin  ia 
beginning  to  sweat,  for  if  he  does,  the  blood  may  be  driven  too 
forcibly  to  the  brain,  without  the  relief  which  is  afforded  by  the 
natural  discharge  from  the  skin,  and  dangerous  mischief  may  be 
produced  On  being  taken  into  the  bath  Gr,  a  bucket  of  chilled 
water  is  placed  within  reach,  and  he  is  tied  up  with  his  head  in 
the  corner  nearest  the  entrance  door,  which  must  be  left  open,  so 
as  to  allow  him  plenty  of  fresh  air.  In  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
the  sweat  begins  to  pour  out  in  large  volumes,  and  this  should  be 
encouraged  by  friction  with  the  hand,  which  may  be  guarded  with 
horsehair  gloves.  As  it  becomes  very  profuse,  a  scraper  may  be 
applied  occasionally,  but  two  grooms,  each  with  horsehair  gloves 
on,  will  be  able  to  remove  it  by  keeping  up  continuous,  deep,  and 
steady  pressure  upon  the  skin,  so  as  at  once  to  squeeze  out  the 
watery  particles  from  the  hair,  and  to  remove  any  scurf  and  other 
tenacious  matters  which  accumulate  there.  According  to  the 
amount  of  reduction  which  is  required  to  be  made  in  the  fatty  de- 
posits, and  to  the  action  of  the  skin,  will  be  the  time  required  to 
be  devoted  to  this  operation,  but  in  general  it  is  completed  in  half 
an  hour.  Some  horses,  however,  have  been  kept  sweating  for  a 
full  hour,  as  I  am  informed,  without  apparent  injury,  and  have 
afterwards  gone  out  to  exercise  as  full  of  life  as  ever.  Indeed,  it 


216  THE  HORSE. 

is  said  that  the  effect  is  usually  to  increase  the  spirits  and  liveli- 
ness of  all  the  horses  submitted  to  it.  During  the  operation  of  the 
bath,  the  preparatory  room  should  have  had  its  doors  and  windows 
thrown  freely  open,  and  it  should  be  left  in  this  state  when  the 
horse  returns  to  it,  some  grooms  liking  to  have  a  strong  draught 
through  it  while  the  horse  is  being  cooled.  In  this  process  there 
is  a  considerable  variation  in  the  practices  adopted  in  those  stables 
where  this  novel  kind  of  sweating  is  introduced.  Some  grooms 
wash  the  horse  all  over  with  cold  water;  others  dash  the  water 
over  the  whole  body  the  moment  he  comes  from  the  bath,  while 
a  third  set  content  themselves  with  the  free  admission  of  a  current 
of  cold  air  to  the  skin.  Time  must  determine  which  of  these  plans 
is  the  best,  but  I  am  told  on  excellent  authority,  that  they  have 
all  been  tried  with  advantage.  The  fact  is  that  when  the  skin  is 
sweating  freely  under  the  stimulus  of  heat,  and  before  its  vessels 
are  beginning  to  flag  in  their  action,  cold  in  any  shape  may  be  ap- 
plied, so  long  as  it  is  not  continued  long  enough  to  reduce  the 
pulse  below  its  natural  standard.  Again,  there  are  some  grooms, 
who,  after  they  have  applied  cold  water,  return  the  horse  to  the 
bath  for  a  few  minutes,  the  air  in  it  being  reduced  to  about  100° 
of  Fahrenheit,  and  on  bringing  him  out,  take  him  at  once  to  his 
box  or  stall,  when  he  is  dressed  as  usual,  till  he  is  perfectly  dry, 
after  which  he  is  clothed  and  fed. 

As  MAY  NATURALLY  BE  EXPECTED,  "the  stable  mind"  is  very 
much  agitated  by  this  innovation  on  established  usages.  On  the 
one  hand,  it  is  argued  by  the  thick-and-thin  supporters  of  the  bath, 
that,  with  the  aid  of  walking  exercise  alone,  and  without  a  single 
gallop,  a  horse  may  be  got  into  perfect  condition,  either  for  the 
race-course  or  the  hunting-field.  I  have  been  told  by  a  gentleman 
whose  authority  is  fairly  to  be  relied  on,  that  he  has  ridden  a 
stableful  of  horses  thus  prepared,  in  the  front  ranks  of  the  crack 
countries,  and  that  he  never  was  so  well  carried  in  his  life.  None 
of  them  were  galloped,  except  by  himself;  and  until  the  season 
(1860-1)  began,  not  one  of  them  had  been  taken  off  a  walk,  as  far 
as  he  knew,  and  he  said  he  had  the  greatest  confidence  in  his 
groom.  On  the  other  hand,  the  opponents  of  the  bath  hold  that 
it  only  removes  fat  and  fluids  of  all  kinds,  and  that  fast  work  must 
be  given  to  the  same  extent  as  without  it,  the  additional  sweat 
produced  by  the  former  exhausting  the  horse  very  materially,  to 
the  prejudice  of  his  condition.  As  far  as  my  own  opinion  goes,  I 
am  inclined  to  believe  that  the  truth  lies  between  these  opposite 
extremes;  and  that  though  a  horse  may  be  made  light  and  airy  by 
means  of  the  bath  and  walking  exercise  alone,  his  muscles  cannot 
be  braced  and  rendered  bigger,  as  they  are  by  actual  fast  work. 
Incredible  as  it  may  appear,  I  have  been  told  on  very  high  author- 
ity, that  a  horse  sweated  twice,  or  even  three  times  in  the  week, 


THE  TURKISH  BATH— PHYSIC.  217 

will  do  as  much  work,  and  as  fast  too,  as  if  he  had  not  gone  through 
the  process.  If  the  bath  has  removed  all  fat  and  humor,  he  will 
not  sweat  in  his  gallops ;  and  if  any  of  either  is  left,  it  will  do  him 
no  harm  to  get  rid  of  it.  Indeed,  after  all,  the  difference  from  the 
old  plan  of  sweating  in  the  stable  without  exercise  is  not  very  great 
in  principle ;  and  that  was  always  found  to  be  of  service  when  the 
legs  or  feet  were  unsound.  Under  that  plan,  the  horse  was  heavily 
clothed,  and  being  just  gently  trotted,  was  taken  back  to  his  box, 
loaded  with  more  clothes  until  he  sweated  freely,  and  was  thus  re- 
lieved of  his  fat  without  being  galloped. 

PHYSIC. 

IN  MY  PREVIOUS  REMARKS  I  have  alluded  to  physic  as  neces- 
sary for  the  purpose  of  getting  rid  of  the  food  which  the  horse  may 
have  been  taking,  before  he  comes  into  the  stable,  without  injury, 
but  the  effects  of  which  are  somewhat  in  opposition  to  the  condi- 
tion required  for  hard  work.  In  addition  to  this  object,  however, 
physic  is  given  with  several  other  purposes  in  view;  but  these  may 
be  said  to  bring  it  within  the  province  of  the  veterinarian  rather 
than  of  the  groom.  Thus,  in  the  horse  recently  brought  up  from 
grass,  it  will  often  be  necessary  to  expel  worms ;  and  though  the 
experienced  groom  may  be  able  to  do  this  without  risk,  yet  it  is 
scarcely  safe  to  recommend  the  young  hand  to  attempt  the  task. 
At  all  events,  if  he  does,  he  must  be  guided  by  the  directions  given 
in  another  part  of  this  book  ;  and  I  shall  merely  direct  my  attention 
to  the  effects  of  physic — firstly,  in  getting  rid  of  injurious  food ; 
secondly,  in  cooling  the  stomach  and  general  system,  and  thus 
enabling  the  latter  to  bear  the  increased  stimulus  afforded  by  extra 
food;  and  thirdly,  to  get  rid  of  internal  fat  and  humors  in  conjunc- 
tion with  sweating. 

TO    THE    EFFECTS   OF   PHYSIC    IN    GETTING    RID    OF    INJURIOUS 

FOOD,  I  have  already  alluded;  but  I  may  here  mention  two  or  three 
circumstances  which  will  serve  to  modify  the  dose,  or  to  forbid  it 
altogether.  Curiously  enough,  when  a  horse  comes  in  from  grass, 
his  bowels  being  in  the  usual  loose  state  which  accompanies  that 
kind  of  feeding,  he  will  generally  require  more  aloes  than  when 
fed  upon  dry  food.  The  reason  of  this  seeming  paradox  is  simple 
enough :  his  bowels  have  become  accustomed  to  the  stimulus  pre- 
sented by  grass  to  their  lining  membrane,  and  are  not  easily  roused 
to  action  by  aloes,  which  is  only  a  vegetable,  still  more  stimulating, 
it  is  true,  but  simply  in  degree.  A  man  accustomed  to  drink,  will 
not  be  so  much  affected  by  swallowing  a  pint  of  brandy,  even  if  he 
is  already  half  drunk,  as  a  perfectly  soter  man  would  be.  if  he  had 
not  previously  been  inured  by  long  usage  to  its  effects.  The  groom 
must  not,  therefore,  fancy  that  a  physic-ball  of  three  drachms,  or 
even  sometimes  four  drachms,  will  be  sure  to  act  on  a  horse  of 
19 


218  THE  HORSE. 

average  size  and  constitution,  just  up  from  grass;  for  he  will  find 
from  four  and  a  half  to  five  and  a  half  drachma  more  likely  to  serve 
his  purpose.  Unless  he  knows  the  constitution  of  the  animal,  he 
had  better  content  himself  with  the  former;  but  generally  this 
quantity  will  not  have  much  appreciable  effect  beyond  a  very  gentle 
clearing  out  of  the  bowels.  No  mash  is  necessary,  because  the 
grass  has  already  prepared  the  bowels  quite  sufficiently.  Of  course, 
if  the  horse  is  already  too  low  in  flesh,  no  physic  should  be  given 
at  this  time". 

THE  COOLING  POWERS  OF  PHYSIC  are  those  which  render  it 
particularly  valuable  in  aiding  the  preparation  of  the  horse  for  fast 
work.  If  at  any  time  the  legs  become  hot,  a  dose  will  carry  off 
the  plethoric  condition  which  shows  itself  in  this  way,  and  the  rest 
which  must  be  given  after  it  will  assist  in  relieving  them.  At 
this  time,  a  mash  should  always  precede  the  physic ;  and  a  second 
on  the  following  night  will  often  be  necessary  before  the  dose  can 
safely  be  given.  The  same  effect  would  be  produced  by  perma- 
nently taking  away  some  of  the  corn ;  but  this  would  put  an  end 
to  the  preparation  altogether,  and  it  is  to  avoid  this  alternative 
that  the  physic  is  given.  The  old  plan  was  in  all  cases  to  give  a 
course  of  three  doses,  at  intervals  of  nine  days,  to  every  horse  when 
first  taken  into  work;  but  if  plenty  of  walking  exercise  is  used,  and 
the  corn  is  gradually  increased,  with  an  ounce  of  nitre  in  the  mash 
every  Saturday  night,  this  routine  is  quite  unnecessary,  and  a 
couple  of  doses  at  the  intervals  I  have  fixed  will  suffice.  Very 
gross,  lusty  horses  will,  perhaps,  require  one,  or  even  two  addi- 
tional doses;  and,  on  the  contrary,  light  herring-gutted  animals 
will  do  without  any.  The  art  of  the  groom  consists  in  fixing  upon 
the  proper  quantum,  beyond  or  below  which  he  ought  not  to  go. 

THE  THIRD  OBJECT  OF  PHYSIC  is  that  which  is  superseded  by 
the  use  of  the  Turkish  bath,  with  much  less  injury  to  the  system. 
Both  act  by  removing  superfluous  fluids  from  the  body,  through 
the  agency  of  the  blood-vessels,  absorbents,  and  secreting  organs ; 
all  of  which  must  co-operate  in  either  case.  The  fluids  lie  stored 
up  in  the  meshes  of  the  cellular  membrane,  either  in  the  shape  of 
oily  or  watery  matters.  To  remove  them,  the  blood  in  circulation 
must  first  be  called  upon  to  part  with  some  of  its  corresponding 
materials,  which  it  does  either  through  the  mucous  membrane  of 
the  bowels,  when  physic  is  given,  or  by  means  of  the  skin,  when 
sweating  is  adopted.  This  sudden  drain  from  the  blood  is  then 
made  up  from  the  store  which  has  been  previously  taken  from  it, 
and  laid  by  in  case  of  such  an  emergency ;  and  thus,  though  the  ex- 
ternal means  employed  are,  very  different,  the  real  effect  is  the 
same.  Both  drain  the  blood  of  large  quantities  of  water,  contain- 
ing certain  soluble  matters ;  and  this  sudden  call  upon  the  vital 
fluid  compels  its  vessels  to  fall  back  upon  the  stored-up  materials 


PHYSIC— FINAL  PREPARATION.  219 

which  are  lodged  around  the  heart  and  other  internal  organs,  and 
which  it  is  the  grand  object  of  the  training-groom  to  remove. 

BUT  THE  EFFECTS  OF  PHYSIC  are  not  always  so  simple  and  inno- 
cent as  those  to  which  I  have  alluded.  A  strong  horse  is  some- 
times over-purged  by  a  very  mild  dose,  and  a  weak  one  will  occa- 
sionally die  from  this  cause.  Hence,  this  agent  should  not  be  idly 
used ;  and  not  only  is  it  actually  dangerous  to  life  in  some  few 
cases,  but  it  weakens  the  tone  of  the  stomach  in  many  more.  Still, 
in  the  majority  of  horses,  a  well-mixed  physic-ball,  carefully  given, 
and  followed  by  proper  management,  will  freshen  the  digestive 
organs  rather  than  weaken  them,  and  may  be  regarded  as  a  most 
valuable  addition  to  the  resources  of  the  groom. 

FINAL  PREPARATION. 

To  GET  A  HUNTER  THOROUGHLY  FIT,  he  must  not  only  have 
gone  through  the  preparatory  work  which  I  have  described,  but 
he  must  undergo  a  further  winding  up,  according  to  the  old- 
e_stablished  rule  on  the  subject,  and  irrespective  of  the  vexed  ques- 
tions connected  with  the  Turkish  bath,  which  may  be  considered 
to  be  yet  in  abeyance.  Having  had  a  gentle  dose  of  physic  at  the 
end  of  his  first  preparation,  he  is  proceeded  with  as  follows: — 
Every  day  he  is  walked  out  for  three  or  four  hours,  either  at  one 
or  two  periods  of  the  day.  If  he  is  thorough-bred,  he  will  bear 
some  brisk  gallops  and  one  or  two  sweats,  with  or  without  clothing, 
every  week ;  but  half-breeds  do  not  stand  much  fast  work,  and  are 
better  confined  to  walking  and  trotting  exercise,  with  an  occasional 
spirt  of  half  a  mile.  These  low-bred  animals  cannot  bear  any  liber- 
ties to  be  taken  with  their  systems ;  and  I  am  told  that  with  them 
the  Turkish  bath  is  far  more  effectual  than  with  the  horse  of  pure 
Eastern  blood.  I  can  easily  imagine  this,  as  I  know  how  badly 
the  former  class  bear  reduction,  and  yet  how  important  it  is  to 
clear  their  wind.  The  feeding  should  be  confined  to  oats  and  hay, 
with  a  bran-mash  on  Saturday  night.  About  five  quarterns  of 
oats  will,  on  the  average,  suffice;  but  no  rule  can  be  laid  down, 
nor  can  it  be  positively  asserted  that  no  beans  should  be  given. 
In  some  cases  the  appetite  is  so  bad,  that  without  them  enough 
corn  will  not  be  taken ;  and  this  is  especially  true  with  reference 
to  those  old  horses  which  have  been  accustomed  to  beans  for  many 
years.  When  the  feet  and  legs,  as  well  as  the  wind,  are  all  sound, 
beans  may  be  allowed  without  fear ;  but  when  there  is  a  screw 
loose  in  any  of  these  departments,  they  produce  inflammation  there, 
and  should  be  carefully  avoided.  Ten  pounds  of  hay  may  also  be 
laid  down  as  the  average  quantity  of  this  article  suited  to  the 
hunter;  but  here,  also,  no  absolute  rule  can  be  carried  out.  Some 
horses  would  "  drop  in  two,"  as  the  grooms  say,  if  only  allowed  ten 
pounds  of  hay  daily;  while  others  would  look  quite  lusty  with  that 
quantity.  A  handful  of  chaff  with  each  feed  of  corn  is  all  that 


220  THE  HORSE. 

should  be  given  of  this  article,  as  more  than  this  is  apt  to  fill  the 
horse  out  in  the  middle  of  the  day.  Towards  the  end  of  this  pe- 
riod, which  may  extend  to  five  or  six  weeks,  the  horse  gradually 
gets  into  high  condition,  and  at  any  time,  on  a  day's  notice,  he 
may  be  ready  for  the  hunting- field.  All  that  is  required  is  to  give 
him  no  hay  on  that  morning,  but  to  feed  him  twice  on  his  usual 
allowance  of  corn,  with  a  few  go-downs  of  water  only  each  time. 
The  hunter  does  not  require  to  be  "  set"  overnight,  like  the  race- 
horse, and  he  may  advantageously  be  given  his  usual  weight  of 
hay  at  the  bedding  him  up  the  night  before ;  but  if  he  has  any 
tendency  to  eat  his  litter,  it  is  prudent  at  all  times,  but  more  espe- 
cially then,  to  put  a  muzzle  on  him  late  at  night,  when  he  has 
eaten  his  hay. 

HACKS  AND  HARNESS-HORSES  demand  nearly  as  much  time 
and  care  to  prepare  them  for  their  work,  especially  in  relation  to 
the  amount  of  corn  which  is  allowed  them.  They  seldom  want  so 
much  as  five  quarterns  daily;  but  whatever  quantity  they  may  re- 
quire, it  should  not  be  given  them  until  they  are  gradually  accus- 
tomed to  its  use.  So  also  with  regard  to  the  hammering  of  their 
feet  and  legs  on  the  road,  it  will  be  found  that  these  demand  sea- 
soning as  much  as  their  wind  and  muscles.  If  this  is  not  attended 
to,  the  best  formed  legs  and  feet  will  become  inflamed,  and  a  valua- 
ble horse  may  be  lamed,  when,  with  proper  care,  he  might  be  made 
to  do  his  work  with  ease  Our  own  bodies,  when  untrained  to  bear 
the  blows  of  the  fist,  show  the  marks  of  the  glove  clearly  enough ; 
but  in  the  course  of  time,  when  the  skin  has  gradually  become 
inured  to  the  stimulus,  even  the  terrible  right  hand  of  Tom  Sayers 
would  fail  to  leave  its  mark  upon  the  ribs  of  a  well-trained  opponent. 
This  difference  in  the  result  of  the  application  of  physical  force 
arises  partly  from  the  tendency  to  inflammation  being  subdued  by 
temperate  living  and  abundant  exercise,  and  partly  from  the  nerves 
and  vessels  of  the  skin  becoming  habituated  to  the  blows  which 
they  receive.  So  also  with  the  hack  and  harness-horse ;  when  first 
they  are  brought  into  the  stable,  their  vessels  are  full  of  gross  hu- 
mors, and  their  feet  and  legs  have  long  been  accustomed  only  to 
the  soft  and  elastic  turf  upon  which  they  have  been  reared.  They 
are,  therefore,  prone  to  inflammation  in  every  way;  and  until  their 
systems  have  been  hardened  by  plenty  of  exercise,  and  their  legs 
and  feet  have  been  gradually  inured  to  our  hard  roads,  they  should 
be  kept  from  every  kind  of  fast  work. 

TREATMENT  AFTER  WORK. 

AFTER  WORK  the  horse  requires  to  be  treated  according  to  its 
nature  and  the  extent  to  which  it  has  been  carried.  Thus  the 
hunter  may  demand  remedies  for  exhaustion,  blows  on  the  legs, 
thorns  in  the  legs,  overreaches,  cuts,  &c. ;  but  the  hack  and  car- 


TREATMENT  AFTER  WORK.  221 

riage-horse  will  only  need  the  ordinary  grooming,  which  has  been 
described  at  page  183 ;  that  is  to  say,  provided  the  feet  are  not  in 
pain  from  ill-fitting  shoes. 

EXHAUSTION  is  sometimes  so  great  that  before  any  food  can  be 
taken  a  cordial  must  be  given,  in  the  shape  either  of  a  warm  ball, 
or  a  quart  of  warm  spiced  ale.  Generally,  however,  some  gruel 
will  suffice,  when  aided  by  a  warm  box  and  the  dther  comforts 
which  are  afforded  by  the  groom,  including  dressing,  clothing, 
bandaging,  &c. 

BLOWS  on  the  legs  are  reduced  by  hot  fomentations,  continued 
for  half  an  hour  at  a  time,  and  repeated  at  intervals  of  one,  two, 
or  three  hours,  in  proportion  to  the  severity  of  the  mischief.  Cold 
applications  are  too  apt  to  relieve  the  skin  and  cellular  membrane 
beneath  it  at  the  expense  of  the  joints,  and  I  have  never  seen  them 
of  much  service.  Nothing,  I  believe,  is  so  valuable  in  all  blows 
received  in  the  hunting-field  as  hot  fomentation,  but  it  should  be 
thoroughly  carried  out,  and  not  done  by  halves,  as  it  too  often  is 
by  careless  grooms.  It  no  doubt  has  a  tendency  to  increase  the 
swelling  for  a  time,  but  in  doing  this  the  blood  is  drawn  to  the 
surface,  and  internal  mischief  is  often  prevented.  I  have  had 
young  horses  come  home  with  their  knees  and  shins  terribly 
bruised  over  timber  and  stone  walls,  but  though  the  fomentation 
with  hot  water  has  enlarged  the  knees  to  a  frightful  size,  there 
has  been  no  lameness  on  the  next  day;  and  the  swelling  has  gra- 
dually disappeared,  leaving  the  joints  as  free  as  ever  at  the  expira- 
tion of  forty-eight  hours.  On  the  other  hand,  I  have  tried  cold 
wet  bandages  for  similar  injuries,  but  I  have  invariably  found  that 
they  gave  present  relief  to  a  slight  extent,  but  left  the  limbs  stiff 
and  rheumatic  often  for  the  next  two  or  three  weeks.  The  addi- 
tion of  a  little  tincture  of  arnica  to  the  water  for  fomentation  is  a 
great  improvement  when  it  is  at  hand,  and  I  should  always  advise 
the  hunting  groom  to  keep  a  stock  of  it  by  him  during  the  season. 
A  wineglassful  is  enough  for  half  a  bucket  of  hot  water. 

THORNS  are  most  troublesome  to  the  groom,  and  it  is  often  a 
question  of  great  doubt  whether  to  persevere  in  the  endeavor  tc 
remove  them,  or  to  leave  them  alone  until  they  manifest  themselves 
by  the  inflammation  they  produce.  When  the  hunter  comes  home, 
his  legs  should  be  carefully  examined  while  they  are  wet  (that  is 
to  say,  if  his  exhausted  condition  does  not  forbid  the  loss  of  time) ; 
and  if  the  hand  clearly  detects  any  projection,  search  should  at 
once  be  made  with  a  view  to  the  removal  of  the  foreign  body. 
Usually,  however,  the  thorn  has  buried  itself,  and  it  is  only  when 
it  has  produced  some  considerable  degree  of  inflammation  that 
attention  is  drawn  to  the  spot.  When  lameness  is  shown  in  any 
of  the  limbs  on  coming  home  from  hunting,  tlrti  groom  always  is 
inclined  to  suspect  a  thorn  as  the  cause  of  mischief,  and  I  have 
19* 


222  THE  HORSE. 

known  the  penknife  used  in  half-a-dozen  different  places  to  cut 
down  upon  what  was  supposed  to  be  a  buried  thorn,  which  was 
never  discovered,  for  the  plain  reason  that  no  such  matter  was 
present  in  the  leg. 

OVERREACHES  must  be  dried  up  as  quickly  as  possible,  and 
should  not  be  treated  like  common  wounds,  for  the  reason  that  the 
horny  substance  of  the  foot,  when  it  becomes  softened  and  decom- 
posed by  the  matter  flowing  from  a  wound  near  it,  acts  like  a 
poison  upon  the  ulcerated  surface.  It  is  better,  therefore,  to  apply 
a  little  friar's  balsam,  or  some  other  astringent,  such  as  sugar  of 
lead,  rather  than  to  use  wet  bandages  or  bran  poultices,  which  I 
have  sometimes  known  to  be  applied. 

SIMPLE  AS  WELL  AS  CONTUSED  CUTS  are  far  better  treated  in 
the  horse  with  hot  fomentations  than  by  any  attempt  to  heal  them 
at  once.  Unless  they  are  very  extensive  or  deep,  the  only  poiut 
in  which  they  are  to  be  regarded  is  with  reference  to  the  blemish 
which  they  may  leave.  Sometimes  the  edges  gape  so  wide,  that  a 
stitch  or  two  must  be  inserted,  but  in  such  a  case  it  is  better  to 
intrust  the  operation  to  a  competent  veterinary  surgeon. 

SUMMERING. 

UNTIL  MR.  APPERLY  first  drew  attention  to  this  subject,  forty 
years  ago,  at  which  period  those  horses  which  were  not  required 
to  work  through  the  summer,  were  invariably  turned  out  to  grass; 
hunters,  as  a  regular  rule,  were  stripped  of  their  clothing  in  April, 
and  sent  to  grass  on  or  about  the  first  of  May,  that  is,  as  soon  as 
the  first  young  blades  showed  themselves,  this  kind  of  food  being 
supposed  to  be  particularly  advantageous  to  them,  from  its  cooling 
powers. 

The  sudden  change  from  a  warm  stable  to  the  cold  nights  often 
met  with  in  May  frequently  produced  inflammation  of  the  lungs 
or  bowels,  and  this  alone  was  sufficient  to  cause  the  plan  to  be  looked 
on  with  great  suspicion  as  soon  as  it  was  shown  that  it  was  by  no 
means  absolutely  necessary.  But  not  only  was  this  danger  incurred ; 
for  even  if  the  hunter  remained  in  good  health  during  the  summer, 
yet  when  he  came  up  in  August  he  was  so  fat  and  unwieldy  from 
eating  the  succulent  grasses  of  that  season,  that  he  was  quite  unfit 
to  be  ridden,  and  had  to  go  through  a  series  of  severe  sweats, 
which  he  was  ill  able  to  bear.  Considering  the  slow  pace  at  which 
hunting  was  carried  on  in  the  eighteenth  century,  a  horse  recently 
up  from  grass,  if  he  had  been  allowed  corn  while  out  of  doors,  as 
was  generally  done,  was  able  to  go  through  a  run,  though  it  might 
be  at  the  expense  of  the  coat  tails  worn  by  his  rider,  which  were 
liberally  lathered  with  soapy  sweat.  But  in  the  present  day,  when 
the  hunter  requires  to  be  as  fit  as  a  race-horse,  he  must  have  the 
same  amount  of  preparation;  and  we  all  know  what  sort  of  chur.ca 


SUMMERING.  223 

a  horse  would  have  of  winning  a  race  in  November  if  he  is  eating 
nothing  but  grass  in  August.  Indeed,  a  fast  run  in  Leicestershire 
is  even  more  trying  to  condition  than  an  ordinary  race,  because, 
though  the  pace  is  not  quite  so  good,  it  is  more  true,  and  lasts  four 
or  five  times  as  long.  Hence  the  old  plan  has  been  almost  uni- 
versally given  up,  and  the  hunter  is  summered  in  a  loose  box, 
where  he  is  generally  "soiled"  on  vetches,  lucerne,  and  clover. 
Moreover,  it  is  found  by  practical  experience,  that  far  more  good 
may  be  done  in  renovating  the  legs  in-doors  than  out  at  this  season 
of  the  year.  In  the  winter,  cold,  starvation,  and  soft  ground  all 
combine  to  restore  the  legs  to  a  cool  and  healthy  state;  and  a  run 
from  October  to  May  will  do  far  more  good  than  the  same  time 
passed  in  a  loose  box.  But  during  the  summer  the  ground  is  hard, 
the  sun  shines  fully  upon  the  legs,  so  as  to  inflame  them  if  they 
have  any  tendency  that  way,  and  the  grasses  are  so  succulent  that 
the  body  becomes  heavy  and  the  blood  full  of  gross  humors,  both 
of  which  last  conditions  tell  with  double  force  upon  the  legs  and 
feet.  Again,  the  flies  which  are  so  tormenting  to  horses  in  June, 
July,  and  August,  cause  them  often  to  gallop  about  in  the  most 
frantic  manner,  and  thus  not  only  is  another  obstacle  presented  to 
their  improvement,  but  it  very  often  causes  these  parts  to  become 
worse  than  in  the  season.  But  some  will  say  that  much  of  this 
risk  may  be  avoided  by  turning  the  hunter  out  into  the  marshes, 
where  the  soil  is  always  cool,  soft,  and  moist.  This  is  quite  true; 
nevertheless,  the  gain  to  the  legs  is  at  the  expense  of  the  general 
system,  which  is  so  completely  upset  by  moist  grasses,  that  instead 
of  eight  or  nine  weeks  it  will  require  as  many  months  to  eradicate 
their  ill  effects.  As  far  as  the  hunter  is  concerned,  there  can  be 
no  question  in  my  mind  that  a  loose  box  is  the  proper  place  for 
him  during  the  summer ;  and  that  he  should  be  allowed  a  yard  to 
run  into  if  it  can  possibly  be  so  arranged  admits  of  little  doubt, 
but  if  this  is  inconvenient,  the  Nimrodian  plan  of  confining  him 
in  the  ordinary  loose  box  is  to  be  accepted  in  its  entirety.  The 
hack  or  harness  horse  does  not  receive  so  much  injury  from  a 
summer's  run  as  the  hunter,  but  if  he  requires  rest  for  his  legs,  it 
is  far  better  to  turn  him  out  in  the  winter  season  than  during  the 
opposite  division  of  the  year.  Nevertheless,  as  there  are  still  some 
advocates  of  the  summer's  run  at  grass,  I  shall  give  directions  for 
it,  as  well  as  for  the  soiling  in  the  stable,  as  advised  by  "  Nimrod." 
SOILING  is  conducted  as  follows  : — At  the  conclusion  of  the  hunt- 
ing season  the  horse  is  gradually  cooled  down,  either  by  removing 
his  clothing  in  the  stable,  and  letting  him  first  stand  there  naked 
for  two  or  three  weeks,  or  by  putting  him  with  it  on  into  a  moder- 
ately warm  loose  box,  and  after  he  has  been  there  a  day  or  two 
taking  it  away  by  degrees.  At  the  same  time  he  is  deprived  of  his 
corn,  and  fed  upon  hay  only  j  but  this  change  also  must  not  be  too 


224  THE  HORSE. 

sudden,  demanding  a  month  for  its  complete  carrying  out,  which 
will  bring  the  time  on  to  the  beginning  or  middle  of  the  month  of 
May.  A  large  airy  loose  box  should  then  be  provided,  the  floor 
being  covered  with  six  inches  of  tan  or  sand,  and  the  door  being 
so  arranged  that  in  warm  weather  it  may  be  left  open,  a  chain  being 
drawn  across  from  post  to  post.  Here  the  horse  is  left  for  a  few 
days  till  he  is  thoroughly  accustomed  to  his  new  berth,  and  his 
coat  is  full  of  dust  and  scurf,  when  he  may  have  a  dose  of  physic, 
and  while  under  its  effects  his  legs  may  be  blistered,  or  dressed 
with  iodine  ointment,  or  some  of  the  many  applications  which  are 
used  for  the  purpose  of  producing  absorption  of  the  morbid  de- 
posits which  have  been  thrown  out  during  the  winter. 

AFTER  THE  PHYSIC  is  SET,  green  food  of  some  kind  may  be 
commenced,  consisting  of  Italian  rye  grass,  young  vetches,  or 
lucerne,  or,  if  these  cannot  be  obtained,  of  ordinary  meadow  grass. 
At  first  an  equal  quantity  of  hay  must  be  allowed  for  old  hunters, 
or  the  change  from  dry  food  to  green  will  produce  too  great  an 
effect  on  the  bowels.  Young  and  hearty  horses  will,  however,  be 
none  the  worse  for  this  j  and,  indeed,  when  they  are  turned  out, 
all  have  to  bear  the  change  in  its  fullest  extent.  I  am  not  fond 
of  vetches  for  soiling  horses,  as  they  either  purge  them  when  they 
are  young,  or  heat  them  too  much  when  their  seed-pods  are  fully 
developed.  For  working  horses  the  latter  condition  is  especially 
suited,  as  they  have  the  effect  of  beans,  and  when  green  food  is 
wanted  merely  to  renovate  the  stomach  without  depending  on  its 
soiling  properties,  I  see  no  objection  to  them.  But  for  hunters 
when  soiled  heating  food  is  to  be  avoided,  and  on  that  account  I 
cannot  see  the  advantage  of  vetches  to  this  kind  of  horse.  As 
there  is  no  galloping  over  hard  ground  the  shoes  may  be  removed 
altogether,  and  even  tips  may  be  dispensed  with.  The  feet  should 
be  pared  out  nicely,  the  blacksmith  removing  all  broken  fragments 
of  horn,  and  inspecting  them  afterwards  at  least  once  a  month. 
Now  is  the  time  to  attend  to  any  early  symptoms  of  sand  crack, 
seedy  toe,  &c.,  prompt  measures  at  this  season  often  leading  to  a 
prevention  of  these  annoying  evils.  If  the  horse  is  not  more  than 
ten  or  twelve  years  old,  his  corn  may  be  stopped  altogether  while 
he  is  eating  green  food  in  June  and  July,  but  a  favorite  old  hunter 
should  be  indulged  with  a  couple  of  quarterns  daily,  or  he  will 
probably  lose  flesh  to  a  great  extent.  The  young  horse  is  always 
prone  to  inflammation,  which  a  cooling  treatment  will  remove,  but 
the  old  one  is  more  seasoned,  and  he  will  get  more  harm  from  being 
lowered  in  his  general  system  than  the  benefit  to  his  legs  will  re- 
pay. By  the  month  of  August  all  these  plans  will  have  co- 
operated to  produce  the  desired  effect;  the  legs  are  cool  and  fine, 
and  the  lumps  and  bumps  incidental  to  the  hunting-field  have  en- 
tirely disappeared.  If  they  have  been  very  extensive,  two  or  three 


SUMMERING.  225 

doses  of  physic  should  have  been  given,  but  in  general  one  dose  as 
ordered  at  the  beginning  of  the  soiling,  and  another  at  the  end. 
when  the  commencement  of  training  takes  its  turn,  will  be  suffi- 
cient. I  have  now  brought  the  horse  to  the  middle  of  the  month 
of  August,  at  which  time  the  preparation  for  work,  described  at 
page  206,  et  sequitur,  must  be  commenced  in  earnest. 

TURNING  OUT  TO  GRASS,  OR  PASTURING,  demands  some  lit'le 
attention,  which  however  horses  seldom  receive.  Excepting  in 
the  height  of  summer  it  is  a  very  dangerous  practice  to  turn  a  pre- 
viously warmly  clothed  and  stabled  animal  into  the  fields  without 
gradually  accustoming  him  to  the  change  of  climate.  The  aver- 
age temperature  of  our  spring  nights  is  not  more  than  40°  of 
Fahrenheit,  and  frequently  this  degree  of  cold  is  united  with  a 
keen  wind  and  sharp  rain.  Even  if  a  hovel  is  provided,  the  horse 
is  almost  sure  to  get  wet  before  he  betakes  himself  to  its  protec- 
tion, and  its  door  being  necessarily  open  the  wind  can  enter  freely 
It  is  therefore  found  that  at  all  other  seasons  but  the  summer 
quarter  two  or  three  weeks  at  least  must  be  devoted  to  the  harden- 
ing of  the  skin  to  bear  the  climate  out  of  doors.  This  is  done  by 
first  of  all  removing  the  clothes  by  degrees,  avoiding  all  attempts 
at  dressing,  so  as  to  allow  the  scurf  to  accumulate  and  protect  the 
skin,  and  then  changing  the  warm  stable  for  a  cooler  box,  which 
may  be  closed  at  first,  and  day  by  day  left  more  and  more  open  to 
the  weather  by  admitting  the  air  through  its  various  apertures. 
If  the  horse  is  of  a  delicate  constitution,  and  the  weather  is  cold 
and  wet,  the  turning  out  should  be  delayed  till  there  should  be  a 
change  for  the  better,  or  if  it  is  decided  on  at  all  risks  the  precau- 
tion should  be  taken  for  the  first  two  or  three  nights  to  bring  him 
under  some  dry  shelter,  avoiding,  of  course,  a  warm  stable,  as 
doubly  injurious. 

WHEN  UNSOUNDNESS  OF  THE  FEET  OR  LEGS  is  the  inducement 
to  turn  out,  and  the  time  at  which  it  is  desirable  to  do  this  is  the 
summer  season,  the  choice  should  fall  upon  a  marsh.  Hard  ground 
will  increase  the  mischief,  and,  between  July  and  September,  al- 
though it  may  be  soft  just  at  one  particular  time,  it  cannot  be 
expected  to  remain  so  long.  In  any  case  some  precaution  should 
Ij3  taken  against  the  horse  galloping  about  on  his  first  being  let 
loose,  which,  from  the  joy  he  experiences  at  getting  his  liberty, 
he  almost  invariably  does  To  prevent  this,  the  legs  should  be 
blistered  a  few  days  before,  so  as  to  seize  the  opportunity  when 
they  are  swollen,  stiff,  and  sore,  and  when,  as  a  natural  conse- 
quence, a  gallop  would  be  so  extremely  painful  as  to  be  altogether 
out  of  the  question.  A  cradle  must  be  kept  on  to  prevent  blem- 
ishes, but  this  is  no  more  objectionable  out  of  doors  than  in.  In 
almost  every  case  this  application  would  be  necessary  for  the  dis- 
eased condition  of  the  extremities,  whether  the  horse  was  turned 

p 


226 


THE  HORSE. 


out  or  not ;  but  it  is  better  to  seize  the  opportunity  while  the  legs 
are  still  stiff  and  sore.  Fetters  or  hobbles  may  be  put  on  the  fore- 
legs with  the  same  object,  if  the  feet  only  are  the  seat  of  mis- 
chief; but  to  inflamed  joints  or  back  sinews  they  are  not  so  well 
suited,  from  the  pressure  they  produce  on  the  former,  and  the 
strains  which  they  cause  to  the  latter.  After  a  few  days'  liberty, 


THE  HUNTER  TURNED  OUT  TO  GRASS. 


the  tendency  to  gallop  will  be  lost,  and  as  the  legs  gradually  re- 
cover their  elasticity  the  horse  is  not  so  prone  to  overdo  himself 
in  his  exercise,  and  will  generally  remain  content  with  a  moderate 
pace;  or,  if  the  legs  are  very  unsound,  the  blister  may  be  re- 
peated. 

THE  RENOVATION  OF  THE  HEALTH,  when  this  has  been  broken 
down  by  disease  or  hard  work,  is  best  effected  on  good  sound  up- 
lands. The  herbage  on  salt  marshes  will  sometimes  agree  with 
the  horse  even  better  than  ordinary  meadow  grass,  but  this  forms 
the  exception  to  the  rule,  and  is  not  to  be  relied  on  in  general. 
In  selecting  a  run  in  such  a  case  care  should  be  taken  that  the 
herbage  is  of  the  desired  nature,  the  best  proof  of  which  is  that 
it  has  agreed  with  horses  in  previous  seasons.  Experienced  judges 
can  generally  pronounce  upon  the  probability  of  the  desired  result 


SUMMERING— CARE  OF  SADDLERY.  227 

after  inspecting  the  situation,  but  on  the  whole  their  opinion, 
however  well  founded,  is  not  so  much  to  be  relied  on  as  the  fact 
that  horses  have  actually  become  fresh  while  turned  out  there. 

THE  FORE  FEET  should  always  be  protected  by  "tips,"  which 
are  merely  short  shoes  reaching  only  two-thirds  of  the  way  to  the 
heels,  which  are  then  left  uncovered.  The  object  is  to  avoid  the 
risk  of  breaking  away  the  toes,  which  is  incurred  whenever  the 
foot  is  battered  on  hard  ground,  as  it  often  is  when  it  is  stamped 
continually,  as  horses  are  very  apt  to  do,  on  the  bare  surface  which 
is  kept  dry  beneath  a  sheltering  tree.  Here  the  flies  are  very  apt 
to  collect  around  the  horses,  and  to  get  rid  of  their  annoyance  the 
legs  are  constantly  in  motion.  If  the  full  shoe  is  left  on,  the  hind 
toe  is  very  apt  to  catch  its  heel  in  deep  ground,  and  tear  it  wholly 
or  partially  off;  and,  moreover,  it  is  too  often  neglected,  and  either 
the  heels  press  into  the  sole,  producing  corns,  or  they  confine  the 
frog,  and  lead  to  disease  of  that  important  organ.  Tips  may  safely 
be  left  on  without  removal  for  two  or  three  months,  whereas  shoes 
require  attending  to  every  three  or  four  weeks.  The  hind  shoes 
are  always  taken  off,  partly  because  the  hind  feet  are  not  so  liable 
to  be  broken  at  the  toes,  but  chiefly  because  they  would  be  dan- 
gerous to  other  animals  if  they  were  left  on  from  the  severe  dam- 
age which  is  done  by  a  kick  with  an  armed  heel. 

HORSES  WHOSE  JUGULAR  VEINS  have  become  obliterated  from 
adhesive  inflammation  following  bleeding,  are  unfit  to  be  turned 
out  in  consequence  of  the  difficulty  which  is  presented  to  the  re- 
turn of  the  blood  from  the  head  by  its  low  position  in  grazing. 
So  also  those  which  have  recently  suffered  from  staggers  should 
not  be  sent  out  to  grass,  for  fear  of  the  position  causing  a  return 
of  the  disease. 

CARE  OF  SADDLERY  AND  HARNESS. 

THE  MANAGEMENT  OF  SADDLERY  must  have  a  treble  object. 
First,  the  groom  should  take  care  that  he  does  nothing  which  shall 
injure  the  horse.  Secondly,  he  must  have  a  due  regard  to  his 
master's  comfort  in  using  it.  And,  thirdly,  he  must  please  the 
eye.  I  must  therefore  show  how  each  of  these  purposes  can  best 
be  effected. 

To  AVOID  INJURING  THE  HORSE  the  groom  should  begin  when 
he  first  comes  in  from  work,  and  before  he  removes  the  saddle  or 
cottar.  It  is  ascertained  by  experience  that  if  these  are  taken  off 
when  the  skin  beneath  them  is  hot  and  sweating,  inflammation  will 
almost  surely  follow,  while  by  leaving  them  loosely  in  their  places 
for  a  short  time  no  injurious  effect  is  perceived.  If  a  groom  who 
is  master  of  his  business  is  watched  when  his  horses  come  in,  he 
will  be  seen  to  loosen  their  girths  and  lift  the  saddles  from  their 
backs  for  a  second,  replacing  them  loosely,  and  leaving  them  there 


228  THE  HORSE. 

while  he  takes  off  the  bridles  and  makes  his  arrangements  for 
dressing.  In  harness-horses  everything  but  the  collars  may  be 
taken  off,  and  after  turning  them  to  remove  the  harness  and  traces, 
they  may  be  replaced  and  left  as  near  to  the  shoulder  as  the  posi- 
tion of  the  horse  with  his  head  in  the  manger  will  allow.  This 
rule  should  be  invariably  followed  whenever  horses  come  into  the 
stable  after  having  done  any  amount  of  work.  If  they  have 
merely  gone  out  for  a  short  airing,  and  the  skin  beneath  the  saddle 
or  collar  is  not  even  damp,  there  is  no  occasion  for  the  precaution, 
and  the  saddle  or  collar  may  at  once  be  removed.  The  next  thing 
to  be  done  to  the  saddlery  in  reference  to  the  horse's  comfort  is  to 
dry  the  lining  carefully  before  it  is  again  used.  Even  the  lining 
of  harness-pads  should  be  attended  to,  and  in  the  winter  this  cannot 
be  done  without  placing  each  before  the  fire.  After  the  serge 
lining  is  dry,  it  is  an  excellent  plan  to  beat  the  stuffing  with  a 
stick,  so  as  to  remove  the  powdery  particles  left  by  the  sweat, 
which  soon  clog  up  the  interstices  and  form  a  matted  cake  with 
the  woollen  materials  used  if  they  are  allowed  to  remain. 

IN    ATTENDING    TO    THE    COMFORT    OF    THE  MASTER  the    groom 

must  take  care  to  keep^  all  the  leather  which  comes  in  contact  with 
the  hands  or  legs  perfectly  supple,  yet  so  clean  that  no  stain  is  left 
behind.  Nothing  is  more  annoying  than  to  get  off  the  saddle  for 
the  purpose  of  paying  a  morning  call,  and  find  the  insides  of  a 
light  pair  of  trousers  stained  all  the  way  down.  This  is  perfectly 
inexcusable,  and  its  occurrence  marks  the  ignorance  and  careless- 
ness of  a  servant  in  the  most  unmistakeable  manner.  The  same 
remark  applies  to  the  reins,  which  never  ought  to  soil  a  pair  of 
white  gloves.  Whenever  blacking  is  applied  to  harness  it  is 
impossible  altogether  to  prevent  the  tendency  to  leave  a  stain,  but 
if  it  is  carefully  put  on,  and  well  brushed,  as  long  as  it  is  kept  dry 
it  may  be  lightly  handled  with  impunity.  If  buckles  are  to  be 
altered,  the  gloves  must  suffer,  and  for  this  reason,  when  gentlemen 
drive  their  own  horses,  they  generally  prefer  brown  driving  reins, 
which  may  be  treated  in  the  same  way  as  riding  reins,  and  kept 
clean  accordingly.  The  following  directions  for  cleaning  saddles 
and  riding  bridles,  and  also  for  brown  driving  reins,  or  any  other 
parts  of  the  harness  made  of  undyed  leather,  will  serve  the  pur- 
pose extremely  well.  As  long  as  the  leather  remains  dry  and 
clean  it  needs  no  attention,  but  when  it  is  wetted,  either  by  rain, 
or  by  the  water  necessary  for  cleaning  it  from  road  dust,  it  becomes 
hard  and  stiff,  and  must  be  softened  with  some  kind  of  oily  matter. 
Neat's-foot  oil  is  that  usually  employed,  but  for  saddles  it  is  rather 
of  too  greasy  a  nature,  being  apt  to  leave  a  mark  on  the  trousers 
if  it  has  been  liberally  applied.  The  best  application  is  deer's 
suet,  which  should  be  gently  warmed  and  rubbed  in  before  the 
leather  is  quite  dry  again,  after  being  wetted  ;  that  is  to  say,  while 


CARE  OF  SADDLERY  AND  HARNESS.  229 

it  remains  limp,  for  if  it  is  held  to  the  fire  long  enough,  all  wet 
leather  becomes  hard  and  stiff.  A  very  little  oil  or  suet  will  suf- 
fice, if  it  is  used  as  soon  as  the  leather  is  nearly  dry,  after  each 
wetting,  but  when  leather  has  been  left  for  days  in  a  dry  place 
after  being  thoroughly  wet,  it  becomes  so  stiff  that  nothing  but  a 
good  soaking  with  oil  will  restore  its  pliability,  and  even  with  this 
it  remains  stiff  to  a  certain  extent,  unless  it  is  very  slightly  damped, 
in  conjunction  with  the  use  of  the  oil.  Vegetable  oils,  with  the 
single  exception  of  castor  oil,  are  too  much  inclined  to  become 
hard  to  suit  leather,  and  none  but  the  latter  should  ever  be  em- 
ployed. Its  nauseous  smell  is  an  objection  to  it,  but  otherwise  it 
will  answer  the  purpose  almost  as  well  as  neat's-foot.  Horse-fat, 
if  used  carefully,  and  in  very  small  quantities,  is  a  capital  applica- 
tion, but  one  liberal  dressing  with  it  spoils  the  look  of  leather, 
giving  it  a  sodden  appearance,  which  it  never  recovers. 

To    MAKE    SADDLERY    AND    HARNESS    LOOK  WELL    to    the    eye, 

several  receipts,  and  directions  for  using  them,  are  necessary j  in- 
cluding the  following,  for  avoiding  injury  from  chemical  decom- 
position : — 

(1.)  Do  not  allow  brass  or  plated  furniture  to  be  within  reach 
of  the  air  of  the  stable  ;  for  the  ammonia  given  off  from  the  urine 
will  tarnish  them.  Gas,  also,  is  prejudicial ;  and  if  it  is  burned 
in  the  harness-room,  it  should  be  contained  within  a  glass  chamber, 
which  has  a  ventilating  shaft,  so  as  to  carry  off  the  products  of 
combustion  into  the  external  air.  Gas  stoves  are  particularly  pre- 
judicial ;  and,  indeed,  so  are  all  stoves  which  allow  the  fumes 
given  off  by  the  coals  to  pass  into  the  room. 

(2.)  As  soon  as  possible  after  the  harness  is  taken  off,  if  the 
weather  is  fine,  take  a  leather,  kept  specially  for  the  purpose,  and 
wipe  off  the  dust ;  sponging  with  a  damp  sponge  those  parts  which 
are  soiled  with  sweat.  If  the  traces,  belly-band,  &c.,  are  splashed 
with  mud,  wash  them  at  once  \  on  no  account  soaking  them  in 
water,  or  using  more  of  it  than  is  necessary.  Dry  them,  as  far  as 
possible,  with  the  leathers.  If  the  black  dye  with  which  the 
leather  is  stained  has  come  off  to  any  serious  extent,  a  little  of  a 
solution  of  green  copperas  may  be  used,  but  this  is  not  often  neces- 
sary. Unbuckle  the  bits  from  the  bridle,  put  them  in  clean  water 
for  a  short  time,  then  take  them  out,  and  remove  every  particle  of 
dirt  from  them.  Dry  with  the  leather,  and  rub  a  very  little  neat's- 
foot  oil  on  them.  Before  they  are  used  again,  they  must  be  polished 
with  the  dry  leather,  aided  by  a  little  silver  sand,  if  they  have 
become  at  all  rusty.  The  curb-chain  will  always  want  rubbing 
loosely  in  the  hand  with  a  little  silver  sand,  finishing  with  the 
leather. 

BLACK  HARNESS  must  be  kept  constantly  polished  by  hand- 
brushing  it  with  some  composition  specially  prepared  for  the  pur- 
20 


230  THE  HORSE. 

pose.  This  must  be  of  a  greasy  or  waxy  nature,  to  prevent  the 
rain  from  dissolving  it,  and  washing  it  off  upon  the  coat  of  the 
horse.  One  or  other  of  the  following  compositions  will  answer  the 
purpose  : 

BECIPES  FOE  HARNESS  BLACKING. 

No.  1. 

Spirit  of  Turpentine    .  .  1  pt. 

Beeswax          .  ,  .  .4  oz. 

Prussian  Blue  .  .  .1  oz. 

Lamp  Black    .  .  .  £  oz. 

Slice  the  wax  very  thin,  put  it  in  a  jar  and  pour  on  the  turpentine.  Let 
it  stand  twenty-four  hours,  then  grind  the  other  ingredients  together  on  a 
stone  or  marble  slab,  and  mix  carefully  up.  It  must  be  kept  in  a  covered 
tin  box. 

No.  2. 

Take  the  above  composition  and  add  the  following,  which  improves  the 
polish  : — 

Spirit  Varnish  •  •  .         1  pt. 

Gum  Benzoin  .  .    ,         .  .         2  oz. 

Soft  Soap         .  .  .  1  oz. 

Melt  together  in  a  water  bath,  and  when  thoroughly  incorporated  mix  all 
together  on  a  stone  and  cover  up  directly. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

RIDING. 

Mounting  and  Dismounting — The  Seat — Management  of  the 
Reins — Modes  of  Starting  the  Horse  into  his  Various  Paces — 
Riding  to  Hounds — Out-door  Vices  and  Bad  Habits. 

MOUNTING  AND  DISMOUNTING. 
THE     CELEBRATED     RAREY 

has  recently  given  us  a  new 
light  upon  the  subject,  which 
is  quite  at  variance  with  those 
directions  which  have  hitherto 
been  considered  to  be  the  cor- 
rect ones  in  this  country.  Thus, 
Captain  Richardson,  in  his  val- 
uable  work  on  Horsemanship, 
advises  as  follows  : — "  Stand 
opposite  the  near  fore-foot  of 
the  horse,  place  the  left  hand 
on  the  neck  near  to  the  withers,  having  the  back  of  the  hand  to  the 


MOUNTING  AND  DISMOUNTING.  231 

horse's  head,  and  the  reins  lying  in  front  of  the  hand.  Take  up 
the  reins  with  the  right  hand,  put  the  little  finger  of  the  left  hand 
between  them,  and  draw  them  through  until  you  feel  the  mouth 
of  the  horse ;  turn  the  remainder  of  the  reins  along  the  inside  of 
the  left  hand,  let  it  fall  over  the  fore-finger  on  the  off-side,  and 
place  the  thumb  upon  the  reins.  Twist  a  lock  of  the  mane  round 
the  thumb  or  fore-finger,  and  close  the  hand  firmly  upon  the  reins. 
Take  the  stirrup  in  the  right  hand,  and  place  the  left  toe  in  it  as 
far  as  the  ball ;  let  the  knee  press  against  the  flap  of  the  saddle, 
to  prevent  the  point  of  the  toe  from  irritating  the  side  of  the  horse; 
seize  the  cantle  of  the  saddle  with  the  right  hand,  and  springing, 
up  from  the  right  toe,  throw  the  right  leg  clear  over  the  horse, 
coming  gently  into  the  saddle  by  staying  the  weight  of  the  body 
with  the  right  hand  resting  on  the  right  side  of  the  pommel  of  the 
saddle;  put  the  right  toe  in  the  stirrup."  Now  this  is  in  the  main 
applicable  to  a  man  of  five  feet  ten  inches  or  six  feet,  but  to  a 
shorter  individual  attempting  to  mount  a  horse  of  fifteen  hands 
three  inches,  it  is  an  impossibility,  simply  because  he  cannot  reach 
the  cantle  from  the  same  position  which  enables  him  to  hold  the 
stirrup  in  the  left  hand.  The  Captain  is  also  wrong,  in  my  opinion, 
in  directing  that  the  body  should  be  raised  into  the  saddle  directly 
from  the  ground,  with  one  movement.  This  will  always  bring  the 
rider  down  into  the  saddle  with  a  very  awkward  jerk;  and  the 
proper  direction  is  to  raise  the  body  straight  up  till  both  feet  are 
on  a  level  with  the  stirrup-iron,  and  then  with  the  left  leg  held 
against  the  flap  of  the  saddle  by  the  left  hand  on  the  pommel,  the 
right  leg  is  easily  thrown  over  the  cantle,  and  the  body  may  be 
kept  in  the  first  position  until  the  horse  is  quiet,  if  he  is  plunging 
or  rearing.  A  short  man  can  generally  place  his  foot  in  the  stir- 
rup while  held  in  his  hand,  but  it  should  be  known  that  all  cannot 
do  this,  because  I  have  seen  young  riders  much  vexed  at  finding 
that  they  could  not  possibly  do  what  is  directed.  Most  of  our 
writers  on  horsemanship  are  of  the  military  school,  and  endeavor 
to  cut  every  one's  cloth  by  their  own  coats.  They  are  able  to  do 
certain  things  easily,  and  so  are  their  men,  because  they  are  mostly 
of  the  height  already  specified,  but  as  sportsmen  and  civil  eques- 
trians are  of  all  heights,  I  shall  endeavor  to  accommodate  my  re- 
marks to  all  heights  and  classes.  In  all  cases  the  rider  should 
stand  at  the  shoulder,  though  with  a  short  man  it  is  much  easier 
to  mount  a  tall  horse  from  the  hind-quarter,  but  the  danger  of 
kicking  is  very  great ;  and  even  in  mounting  with  "  a  leg,"  in  the 
jockey  style,  I  have  known  the  thigh  very  nearly  broken  by  a 
kick.  If  the  hand  can  steady  the  stirrup  it  should  do  so,  but  if 
the  person  is  too  short,  the  foot  can  be  placed  in  the  stirrup  with- 
out its  aid;  then  taking  the  reins  between  the  fingers,  much  as 
directed  in  the  passage  already  quoted,  and  grasping  a  lock  of  the 


232  THE  HORSE. 

mane  with  the  finger  and  thumb,  the  body  is  raised  till  the  right 
foot  is  brought  to  a  level  with  the  left,  when  the  right  hand  seizes 
the  cantle,  and  with  the  left  grasping  the  pommel,  the  body  is 
steadied  for  a  short  time,  which,  in  the  ordinary  mount,  is  almost 
imperceptible,  but  in  a  fidgety  horse  is  sometimes  of  considerable 
length.  The  leg  is  now  thrown  gently  over  the  saddle,  and  as  it 
reaches  the  cantle  the  hand  is  withdrawn,  after  which  the  body 
sinks  into  the  saddle  in  an  easy  and  graceful  manner.  The  right 
foot  is  then  placed  in  the  stirrup,  with  or  without  the  aid  of  the 
right  hand  holding  it. 

SUCH  is  THE  ENGLISH  METHOD.  Mr.  Rarey,  in  opposition  to 
this  plan,  advises  that  the  right  hand  and  arm  shall  be  thrown  over 
the  saddle,  the  horseman  standing  with  his  back  to  the  quarters, 
and  thus  incurring  the  chance  of  being  severely  kicked. 

THE  SEAT. 

THE  POSITION  OF  THE  rider  in  the  saddle,  called  "  the  seat/' 
admits  of  several  variations  according  to  the  purpose  to  which  he 
is  devoted,  but  it  is  mainly  influenced  by  the  length  of  the  stir- 
rups. In  the  military  style  these  are  so  long  that  the  weight  of 
the  body  is  conveyed  to  the  saddle  by  the  inside  of  the  thighs,  or 
"  fork"  alone,  while  in  that  adopted  in  the  East  this  part  scarcely 
touches  the  saddle,  and  the  breech  and  feet  distribute  the  weight 
between  them.  Colonel  Greenwood,  who  is  the  only  military  writer 
on  horsemanship  that  can  be  taken  as  a  guide  for  the  road,  tells 
us — "  There  is  one  direction  which  I  think  applies  to  all  seats. 
Turn  the  thigh  from  the  hip,  so  as  to  bring  the  hollow  to  the  sad- 
dle j  this  places  the  foot  straight  to  the  front,  with  the  heel  out 
and  the  toe  in.  Trotting  without  stirrups  on  the  thigh  only,  with 
the  heel  down  and  the  toe  up,  shoulders  back,  a  snaffle  rein  in 
each  hand  like  a  rough-rider,  is  the  best  possible  position  for  sit- 
ting." Now  the  latter  part  of  this  is  quite  true,  but  the  former  is 
not  quite  consistent  with  my  own  experience,  for  if  the  short 
stirrups  of  the  Eastern  horseman  are  adopted,  the  hollow  of  the 
thigh  cannot  be  brought  to  the  saddle,  yet  this  style  he  admits  is 
"  admirable  in  its  way."  Dismissing  then  the  military  seat  for 
which  Colonel  Greenwood's  directions  may  suffice,  I  may  assert 
that,  in  the  ordinary  English  style,  there  are  four  points  necessary 
to  be  considered;  namely,  (1)  the  position  of  the  weight,  which  will 
be  mainly  influenced  by  (2)  the  position  of  the  knees  well  forward 
on  the  flap,  (3)  the  proper  length  of  the  stirrup-leathers,  and  (4) 
the  carriage  of  the  body.  If  the  weight  is  not  laid  upon  the 
middle  of  the  saddle,  which  is  the  axis  of  the  "  see-saw"  motion 
made  in  the  gallop,  it  has  to  be  raised  at  every  stride,  and  thus 
additional  labor  is  thrown  on  the  horse.  With  long  stirrups  in  the 
military  style  this  is  of  necessity  done ;  but,  with  short  stirrups, 


MANAGEMENT  OF  THE  REINS.  233 

the  knees  are  often  placed  on  the  flaps  behind  the  leathers,  and 
then  the  breech  remains  close  to  the  cantle  and  sometimes  almost 
overlapping  it.  To  get  the  length  of  leather  adapted  to  most  men, 
though  there  are  occasionally  exceptions,  the  rider  should  sit  well 
on  his  fork,  and  then  the  stirrups  should  be  taken  up  or  let  down 
till  they  just  touch  the  ankle  bone.  For  road  riding  this  enables 
the  hollow  of  the  thigh  to  touch  the  saddle,  because  the  ball  of  the 
foot  being  on  the  stirrup,  the  heel  is  down  an  inch  and  a  half  below 
it;  whilst,  in  the  hunting-field,  as  the  stirrup  is  worn  "home,"  the 
knee  is  carried  higher  and  more  forward  on  the  saddle,  and  the 
weight  is  distributed  between  it,  the  breech,  and  the  foot.  With 
regard  to  the  carriage  of  the  body,  all  the  directions  in  the  world 
will  not  make  it  easy,  and  without  the  supervision  of  a  master,  or 
a  friend,  to  point  out  defects,  no  one  can  be  sure  that  he  is  sitting 
in  a  good,  much  less  an  elegant  style.  It  is  not  possible  even  to 
know  that  the  shoulders  are  square,  or  that  the  body  is  not  carried 
on  one  side,  defects  which  I  have  known  persisted  in  for  years 
without  the  slightest  consciousness  of  them  on  the  part  of  the 
rider,  who  would  gladly  have  rectified  them  if  he  had  known  of 
their  existence.  One  rule  may,  however,  be  given,  namely,  that 
no  effort  should  be  made  to  move  in  any  direction,  and  that,  on 
the  contrary,  every  endeavor  should  be  directed  to  keep  the  body 
and  legs  as  still  as  the  action  of  the  horse  will  allow,  bearing  in 
mind  that  the  opposite  extreme  of  stiifness  is  almost  equally  bad. 

MANAGEMENT  OF  THE  REINS. 

THERE  ARE  THREE  DISTINCT  MODES  of  holding  and  managing 
the  reins.  In  the  first,  adopted  by  th$  military  school,  the  left 
hand  does  all,  without  any  assistance  from  the  right,  which  is  occu- 
pied with  the  sword,  lance,  or  carbine.  In  the  second,  the  left 
hand  holds  the  reins,  aided  occasionally  by  the  right ;  and  in  the 
third,  or  "  two-handed  method,"  the  reins  are  permanently  held 
one  in  each  hand.  The  first  of  these  is  only  needed  in  the  mantye^ 
and  I  therefore  shall  not  allude  to  it ;  while  the  last  requires  no 
description,  further  than  to  mention  that  it  is  the  mode  adopted 
by  the  colt-breaker,  and  that  it  gives  far  more  control  over  the 
mouth  than  either  of  the  others.  As  single  and  double  reins 
are  differently  placed  in  the  hand,  a  description  of  each  will  be 
necessary. 

THE  SINGLE  REIN  is  held  by  placing  all  the  fingers  but  the  first 
between  the  two  leathers,  and  then,  making  both  turn  over  that 
one,  they  are  firmly  held  by  pressing  the  thumb  against  it.  This 
gives  a  firm  grasp,  and  at  the  same  time  allows  of  either  being 
pulled  tighter  than  the  other  by  turning  the  wrist.  To  shorten 
the  grasp,  the  right  hand  has  only  to  lay  hold  of  the  loose  part  of 
the  rein,  and  then  the  left,  sliding  forwards  towards  the  neck,  can 
20* 


234  THE  HORSE. 

close  wherever  it  may  be  desired.  In  order  to  be  sure  that  the 
elbow  is  held  against  the  side,  the  thumb  should  always  point 
towards  the  horse's  ears  ;  and  the  nearer  the  little  finger  can  be 
carried  to  the  pommel  of  the  saddle  the  better.  In  using  the 
single  rein,  the  management  of  the  mouth,  if  a  good  one,  is  easy 
enough ;  nevertheless,  there  are  various  directions  for  the  purpose 
adopted  in  different  schools,  which  are  dependent  upon  altogether 
conflicting  principles  Every  tyro  knows  that  the  horse  turns  to 
the  left  by  pulling  the  left  rein,  and  to  the  right  by  pulling  the 
opposite  one ;  and  the  problem  to  be  solved  is  to  do  this  by  one 
hand  only.  Now,  this  with  the  single  rein  is  easily  effected  by 
raising  the  thumb  towards  the  right  shoulder,  when  the  right  rein  is 
to  be  pulled,  or  by  drawing  the  little  finger  towards  the  fork  for  the 
left;  in  both  cases  by  a  turn  of  the  wrist,  without  lifting  the  whole 
hand.  But  over  and  above  this  action  on  the  mouth,  and  in  many 
cases  independent  of  it,  is  a  movement  which,  in  trained  horses, 
is  capable  of  much  greater  delicacy,  and  which  depends  upon  the 
sensibility  of  the  skin  of  the  neck  for  its  due  performance.  It  is 
effected  by  turning  the  whole  hand  to  the  right  or  left,  without 
any  wrist  action,  so  as  to  press  the  right  rein  against  the  neck,  in 
order  to  cause  a  turn  to  the  left,  and  the  left  rein  against  the  neck 
for  the  opposite  purpose;  at  the  same  time  rather  slackening  the 
reins,  so  as  not  to  bear  upon  the  mouth  by  so  doing.  In  this  way 
a  horse  may  be  turned  with  a  much  greater  degree  of  nicety  and 
smoothness  than  by  acting  on  the  corner  of  his  mouth.  But 
highly-broken  horses,  such  as  the  military  troop-horses,  are  often 
too  much  used  to  their  bits  to  answer  to  this  slight  and  delicate 
manipulation;  and  therefore  it  is  eschewed  by  Captain  Richardson, 
as  well  as  by  Colonel  Greenwood,  but,  strangely  enough,  for  oppo- 
site reasons,  and  each  attempting  to  substitute  a  very  different 
process  for  it.  I  am  well  aware  that  some  horses  can  never  be 
taught  it,  but  must  always  have  a  bearing  made  on  the  mouth 
before  they  will  turn;  yet,  when  it  can  be  inculcated,  it  makes  the 
animal  so  tractable  and  agreeable  to  ride,  that  it  is  a  highly  desira- 
ble accomplishment;  and  I  cannot,  therefore,  join  in  condemning 
its  use,  but  should  rejoice  if  it  could  in  all  cases  be  fully  developed. 
THE  DOUBLE  REIN  is  usually  held  by  those  who  ride  for  plea- 
sure in  this  country  as  follows  : — Begin  by  taking  up  the  snaffle- 
rein,  and  place  the  fore  and  middle  fingers  between  its  two  por- 
tions; then  lay  hold  of  the  curb-rein,  and  either  hook  it  loosely 
on  to  the  little  finger,  if  not  immediately  wanted,  or  draw  it  up  to 
the  requisite  degree  of  tightness  and  turn  it  over  the  fore  finger, 
when  it  will  lie  upon  the  snaffle-rein,  and,  together  with  it,  will  be 
gripped  by  the  thumb.  By  adopting  this  plan,  the  curb-rein  is 
always  at  the  command  of  the  right  hand ;  and  it  may  be  shortened 
or  let  out  in  a  moment,  which  is  of  constant  occurrence  in  every 


MANAGEMENT  OF  THE  REINS— STARTING  TO  TROT.       235 

day's  ride.  The  hand  is  held  as  with  the  single  rein,  with  the 
thumb  pointing  to  the  horse's  ears;  in  turning,  however,  there  is 
much  less  power  of  bearing  on  either  side  of  the  bit  by  raising 
the  thumb  or  lowering  the  little  finger,  because  the  distance  be- 
tween the  snaffle-reins  is  only  half  what  it  was,  and  therefore  the 
mode  of  turning  by  pressure  upon  the  neck  is  doubly  desirable ; 
and  hence  its  general  adoption  in  those  cases  where  double-reined 
bridles  are  used,  as  in  the  field  and  on  the  road.  Sometimes,  to 
obviate  this  objection,  the  snaffle-reins  are  placed  as  in  the  single- 
reined  bridle,  outside  the  little  finger,  and  then  the  curb  is  hooked 
over  the  ring-finger,  between  the  snaffle-reins,  so  as  to  allow  of  the 
full  manipulation  of  the  mouth  by  the  hand,  without  bearing  upon 
the  neck.  But  the  objection  to  this  is,  that  the  curb  cannot  be 
shortened  without  releasing  the  snaffle ;  and  therefore  the  horse 
must  either  be  ridden  on  the  curb  alone  while  this  process  is  be- 
ing effected,  or  his  head  must  be  loosed  altogether ;  whereas,  in 
the  other  mode,  his  mouth  is  still  under  the  control  of  the  snaffle 
all  the  time  that  the  curb  is  being  let  out  or  taken  in. 

THE  ATTAINMENT  OF  "  GOOD  HANDS/'  by  which  is  to  be  under- 
stood a  light  and  delicate  handling  of  the  reins,  is,  or  ought  to 
be, 'the  aim  of  every  rider.  The  most  delicate  mouth  in  the  world 
is  soon  spoilt  by  bearing  heavily  on  it,  as  is  too  often  done  by 
grooms,  and,  indeed,  by  the  average  run  of  our  horsemen.  So 
also  in  hunting,  if  the  horse  is  not  allowed  his  head  in  making  his 
effort,  he  will  be  almost  sure  to  fail  in  exactly  doing  what  he 
meant,  and  will  hit  timber,  if  he  is  put  at  that  class  of  fence, 
or  will  drop  his  hind  legs  into  the  ditch,  if  there  is  one.  Bad 
riders  use  the  reins  as  a  means  of  balancing  themselves  in  the 
saddle,  and  this  is  especially  done  in  the  hunting-field,  where  they 
would  be  utterly  unable  to  maintain  their  seats  without  the  aid  thus 
afforded  to  the  proper  grip  and  balance.  Every  one  in  learning  to 
ride  ought  to  be  taught  to  go  through  all  the  paces,  and  to  jump 
the  bar  without  any  reins  in  his  hand  ;  and  when  he  finds  he  is 
able  to  do  without  them,  he  will  learn  to  use  them  only  in  the  way 
for  which  they  are  intended. 

MODES  OF  STARTING  THE  HORSE  INTO  HIS  VARIOUS 
PACES. 

To  MAKE  A  HORSE  start  off  in  a  quick  walk,  when  he  is  not 
inclined  to  do  so,  either  from  being  too  fresh  or  too  raw,  is  by  no 
means  an  easy  task.  I  have  often  ridden  one  for  several  days  in 
succession,  before  I  could  make  him  settle  down  to  a  fair  walk, 
and  even  then  the  slightest  excitement  would  upset  all  my  apparent 
previous  progress.  This  is  especially  true  of  those  horses  pos- 
sessed of  such  elastic  joints,  that  they  could  "jog"  at  a  rate  much 
slower  than  they  could  walk.  Here  restraint  by  the  bridle  is  out 


236  THE  HORSE. 

of  the  question,  and  any  excitement  by  the  voice  or  heel  increases 
the  jog  into  a  full  trot,  without  passing  through  any  intermediate 
stage.  The  difficulty  consists  in  the  fact  that  for  a  perfect  walk 
the  head  must  be  at  liberty,  and  when  this  is  allowed  to  a  generous 
horse,  he  is  inclined  to  go  off  at  a  rate  faster  than  suffices  for  the 
pace  in  question.  The  only  plan,  therefore,  is  to  ride  such  horses 
quietly,  till  they  are  leg  weary,  whatever  the  number  of  hours  may 
be  required,  and  then  it  is  possible  to  loose  their  heads  without 
ihjir  taking  advantage  of  the  liberty  to  go  off  "at  score."  In- 
deed, in  the  walk,  the  head  should  never  be  much  confined,  and 
yet  the  rider  should  not  entirely  leave  it  uncontrolled;  the  finest 
possible  touch  is  enough,  so  that  on  any  trip  the  hand  is  at  once 
informed  of  it  by  the  drop  of  the  head,  when,  by  a  sudden  jerk  of 
the  bridle,  not  too  forcible,  it  rouses  the  horse,  and  prevents  his 
falling  It  is  not  that  he  is  kept  up  by  pulling  the  rein,  but  that 
he  is  roused  by  it  and  made  to  exert  himself,  for  many  horses  seem 
regardless  of  falls,  and  would  be  down  twenty  times  a  day  if  they 
were  not  stimulated  by  the  heel  and  bit.  Confinement  of  the  head 
in  the  walk  is  absolutely  injurious,  and  more  frequently  causes  a 
fall  than  saves  one.  A  good  walker  will  go  on  nodding  his  head 
to  each  step,  more  or  less  as  it  is  a  long  or  a  short  one;  and  if  this 
nodding  is  prevented  by  the  heavy  hand  of  the  rider,  the  fore-foot 
is  not  properly  stretched  forward,  the  step  is  crippled,  and  very 
often  the  toe  strikes  the  ground;  when,  if  the  head  were  at  liberty, 
it  would  clear  it  well.  In  horses  which  are  apt  to  stumble  in  the 
walk,  I  have  generally  found  that  a  loose  rein,  with  the  curb  held 
ready  for  a  check,  is  the  safest  plan ;  and  then  the  horse  soon  finds 
that  he  is  punished  the  moment  he  stumbles,  and  in  a  very  short 
time  he  learns  to  recover  himself  almost  before  he  is  reminded. 
I  do  not  like  the  spur  or  the  whip  so  well,  because  the  use  of  either 
makes  the  horse  spring  forward,  and  often  blunder  again  in  his 
hurry  to  avoid  this  kind  of  punishment.  The  check  of  the  curb, 
on  the  other  hand,  makes  him  recover  himself  without  extra 
progress,  or  rather  by  partially  stopping  him,  and  thus  he  is  better 
able  to  avoid  his  fall.  The  body  is  allowed  to  yield  slightly  to  the 
motions  of  the  horse,  but  not  to  waddle  from  side  to  side,  as  is 
sometimes  seen.  Some  horses  do  not  stir  the  rider  at  all,  while 
others  throw  him  about  and  fatigue  him  greatly;  and  this  may 
generally  be  foretold  when  the  tail  sways  much  from  side  to  side 
in  the  walk,  which  is  caused  by  the  over-long  stride  of  the  horse, 
a  very  desirable  accomplishment  in  the  race-horse  or  hunter,  but 
not  in  the  hack. 

THE  JOG  TROT  is  a  pace  that  there  is  seldom  any  difficulty  in 
effecting,  and  on  the  contrary,  as  I  have  just  observed,  the  rider  is 
often  engaged  for  hours  or  days  in  breaking  the  young  horse  of  it. 

THE  REGULAR  TROT  is  generally  easy  to  produce,  but  sometimes 


STARTING  TO  TROT.  237 

when  the  canter  has  been  much  adopted,  it  is  not  so  readily  efftcted. 
The  best  plan  is  as  follows  : — Take  hold  of  both  the  reins  of  the 
snaffle,  and  bear  firmly,  but  steadily,  upon  the  mouth,  lean  slightly 
forwards  in  the  saddle,  press  the  legs  against  the  horse's  sides,  and 
use  the  peculiar  click  of  the  tongue,  which  serves  as  an  encour- 
agement to  the  horse  on  all  occasions.  If  properly  trained,  he 
will  now  fall  at  once  into  the  trot,  but  if  he  breaks  into  a  canter 
ur  gallop,  he  must  be  checked  and  restrained  into  a  walk,  or  a 
"jog-trot."  Where  the  horse  has  been  much  used  to  canter,  and 
can  go  at  that  pace  as  slowly  as  he  walks,  there  is  often  great  diffi- 
culty in  making  him  trot,  for  no  restraint,  short  of  a  total  halt, 
will  prevent  the  canter.  In  such  cases,  laying  hold  of  an  ear  will 
often  succeed,  by  making  the  animal  drop  his  head,  which  move- 
ment interferes  with  the  canter,  and  generally  leads  to  a  trot.  The 
rising  in  the  stirrups  is  generally  practised  in  civil  life,  as  being 
far  less  fatiguing  to  both  horse  and  rider  j  but  in  the  military 
schools  the  opposite  style  is  inculcated,  because  among  a  troop  of 
horse  it  has  a  very  bad  effect  if  a  number  of  men  are  bobbing  up 
and  down,  out  of  all  time.  If  it  were  possible  for  all  to  rise  to- 
gether, perhaps  the  offence  against  military  precision  might  be 
pardoned ;  but  as  horses  will  not  all  step  together,  so  men  cannot 
all  rise  at  the  same  moment,  and  the  consequence  is  that  they  are 
doomed  to  bump  upon  the  sheep-skins  in  a  very  tiresome  manner, 
fatiguing  alike  to  man  and  horse.  This  rising  in  the  saddle  of  itself, 
encourages  horses  which  have  been  accustomed  to  it  to  trot  in 
preference  to  any  other  pace,  and  they  understand  the  faintest  in- 
dication of  it  as  a  sign  that  this  particular  pace  is  to  be  commenced, 
and  trot  accordingly.  The  civilian's  mode  of  riding  the  trot  is  as 
follows : — At  the  precise  moment  when  the  hind  and  fore  legs  are 
making  their  effort  to  throw  the  horse  forward  in  progression,  the 
body  of  the  rider  is  thrown  forcibly  into  the  air,  in  some  horses  to 
so  great  an  extent  as  to  make  a  young  rider  feel  as  if  he  never 
should  come  down  again.  After  reaching  the  utmost  height,  how- 
ever, the  body  falls,  and  reaches  the  saddle  just  in  time  to  catch 
the  next  effort,  and  so  on  as  long  as  the  trot  lasts.  In  this  way,  the 
horse  absolutely  carries  no  weight  at  all  during  half  his  time,  and 
the  action  and  reaction  are  of  such  a  nature  that  the  trot  is  accel- 
erated rather  than  retarded  by  the  weight.  No  horse  can  fairly 
trot  above  twelve  miles  or  thirteen  miles  an  hour  without  this  rising, 
though  he  may  run  or  pace  in  the  American  style,  so  that  it  is  not 
only  to  save  the  rider's  bones  but  also  to  ease  the  horse  that  this 
practice  has  been  introduced,  and  holds  its  ground  in  spite  of  the 
want  of  military  sanction.  It  is  here  as  with  the  seat ;  utility  is 
sacrificed  to  appearances;  and  whenever  the  long  and  weak  seat  of 
the  barrack-yard  is  supplanted  by  the  firm  seat  of  the  civilian,  I 
shall  expect  to  see  the  rising  in  the  trot  abandoned,  but  certainly 


238  THE  HORSE. 

not  till  then.  The  military  length  is  not  now  what  it  was  thirty 
years  ago;  and  perhaps  some  time  or  other  soldiers  may  adopt  the 
rise,  but  I  am  afraid  not  until  they  have  produced  many  thousands 
more  sore  backs  than  they  need  have  done  if  they  had  never  prac- 
tised it.  In  the  trot,  the  foot  should  bear  strongly  on  the  stirrup, 
with  the  heel  well  down,  and  the  ball  of  the  foot  pressing  on  the 
foot-piece  of  the  stirrup,  so  that  the  elasticity  of  the  ankle  takes  off 
the  jar,  and  prevents  the  double  rise,  which  in  some  rough  horses 
is  very  apt  to  be  produced.  The  knees  should  always  be  main- 
tained exactly  in  the  same  place,  without  that  shifting  motion  which 
is  so  common  with  bad  riders,  and  the  legs  should  be  held  perpen- 
dicularly from  the  knee  downwards.  The  chest  should  be  well 
forward,  and  the  waist  in,  the  rise  nearly  upright,  but  slightly 
forward,  and  as  easily  as  can  be  effected  without  effort  on  the  part 
of  the  rider,  and  rather  restraining  than  adding  to  the  throw  of 
the  horse. 

GOOD  HANDS  and  a  quiet  seat  only,  with  the  aid  of  a  curb  bit 
properly  adapted  to  the  mouth,  are  required  to  develop  the  canter, 
by  restraining  the  gallop ;  but  to  make  a  horse  start  off  at  once, 
with  a  lead  of  either  leg  as  desired,  is  altogether  another  matter. 
To  do  this,  the  canter  with  either  leg  leading  must  first  be  com- 
pletely taught,  so  that  there  is  no  difficulty  in  making  the  horse 
display  that  particular  pace  at  any  time.  Then  just  at  the  moment 
before  starting,  pull  the  rein,  and  press  the  heel  on  the  side  oppo- 
site to  the  leg  which  it  is  desired  the  horse  should  lead.  The  rea- 
son of  this  is  obvious  enough ;  every  horse  in  starting  to  canter 
(and  many  even  in  the  canter  itself)  turns  himself  slightly  across 
his  line  of  progress,  in  order  to  enable  him  to  lead  with  that  leg 
which  he  thereby  advances.  Thus  supposing  a  horse  is  going  to 
lead  off  with  the  off-foreleg,  he  turns  his  head  to  the  left  and  his 
croup  to  the  right,  and  then  easily  gets  his  off-leg  before  and  his 
near-leg  behind  into  the  line  which  is  being  taken.  Now,  to  com- 
pel him  to  repeat  this  action,  it  is  only  necessary  to  turn  him  in 
the  same  way,  by  pulling  his  head  to  the  left,  and  by  touching 
him  with  the  left  heel,  after  which  he  is  made  to  canter  by  excit- 
ing him  with  the  voice  or  whip,  whilst  at  the  same  moment  he  is 
restrained  by  the  curb.  When  once  this  lead  is  commenced,  the 
hold  on  the  curb  and  pressure  on  the  legs  may  be  quite  equal ;  but 
if,  while  the  canter  is  maintained,  it  is  desired  to  change  the  lead- 
ing leg,  the  horse  must  be  collected  and  roused  by  the  bit  and  voice, 
and  then  reversing  the  pull  of  the  reins  and  the  leg-pressure,  from 
that  previously  practised,  so  as  to  turn  the  horse  in  the  opposite 
way  to  that  in  which  he  was  started,  he  will  generally  be  compelled 
to  change  his  lead,  which  is  called  "  changing  his  leg."  The  seat 
in  this  space  is  a  very  easy  one,  the  knees  taking  a  very  gentle  hold 
of  the  saddle,  the  feet  not  bearing  strongly  upon  the  stirrups,  and 


THE  GALLOP.  239 

the  body  tolerably  upright  in  the  saddle.  The  hands  must  not  be 
too  low,  but  should  keep  a  very  gentle  but  constant  pressure  upon 
the  bit,  and  should,  if  there  is  the  slightest  tendency  to  drop  the 
canter,  rouse  the  mouth  by  a  very  slight  reminder,  and  also  stimu- 
late the  spirits  by  the  voice  or  whip. 

THE  GALLOP  being  generally,  though  not  always,  his  fastest 
pace,  the  horse  may  be  forced  into  it  readily  enough  by  the  stimu- 
lus of  the  voice,  whip,  or  spurs.  Sometimes  very  fast  trotters  can- 
not gallop  so  fast  as  they  can  trot,  but  these  are  rare  exceptions, 
and  need  not  be  considered  in  any  other  light.  It  is  therefore 
useless  to  describe  the  mode  of  starting  this  pace ;  but  some  allu- 
sion may  advantageously  be  made  to  the  best  method  of  riding  it. 
There  are  two  seats  adopted,  the  ordinary  one  being  to  sit  down 
into  the  saddle  and  keep  as  close  to  it  as  possible,  but  another 
being  also  practised  called  standing  in  the  stirrups.  The  former  is 
the  usual  seat,  and  it  is  only  in  racing  or  in  the  very  fast  gallop 
at  other  times  that  the  latter  is  adopted.  In  sitting  down  the  feet 
may  be  either  resting  on  the  ball  of  the  toe,  as  in  the  other  paces, 
or  with  the  stirrup  "  home"  to  the  boot,  as  is  common  in  all  field- 
riding.  The  body  is  thrown  easily  and  slightly  back,  the  knees 
take  firm  hold,  the  rider  being  careful  not  to  grip  the  horse  so  tight 
as  to  distress  him,  which  fault  I  have  known  very  muscular  men 
often  commit.  The  hands  should  be  low,  with  sufficient  pull  at  the 
mouth  to  restrain,  but  not  to  annoy  him  and  make  him  "fight;" 
and  if  he  is  inclined  to  get  his  head  down  too  much,  or  the  re- 
verse, they  must  be  raised  or  lowered  accordingly.  When  the 
standing  in  the  stirrups  is  to  be  practised,  the  weight  is  thrown 
upon  them,  steadying  it  with  the  knees  and  thighs,  which  should 
keep  firm  hold  of  the  saddle.  The  seat  of  the  body  is  carried  well 
back,  while  at  the  same  time  the  loin  is  slightly  arched;  but  by 
this  combined  action  the  weight  is  not  hanging  over  the  shoulder 
of  the  horse,  as  it  would  be,  and  often  is,  when  the  breech  is  raised 
from  the  saddle  and  brought  almost  over  the  pommel,  with  the 
eyes  of  the  rider  looking  down  his  horse's  forehead,  or  very  nearly 
so.  If  a  jockey  of  more  than  seven  or  eight  stone,  with  a  good 
seat,  is  watched,  it  will  be  seen  that  his  leg  does  not  descend 
straight  from  the  knee,  but  that  it  is  slightly  thrown  back  from 
that  line,  and  consequently  that  his  centre  of  gravity  is  behind  it, 
so  that  he  can,  by  stiffening  the  joint,  carry  his  body  as  far  behind  it 
as  his  stirrup  is,  without  ceasing  to  stand  in  it.  Very  light  jockeys 
adopt  a  somewhat  different  seat,  riding  with  longer  stirrups  and 
throwing  their  weight  greatly  on  the  muscles  of  the  thigh,  while 
they  raise  the  breech  entirely  from  the  saddle,  but  only  for  a  com- 
paratively small  distance.  This  gives  them  a  strong  hold  of  their 
horses,  without  which,  being  so  small,  they  could  not  ride  them. 
Standing  in  the  stirrups  cannot  long  be  maintained  without  fatigue 


240  THE  HORSE. 

to  the  rider,  and  it  is  only  adopted  in  racing  or  in  short  gallops 
over  bad  ground,  as  in  hunting,  when  there  is  a  deep  piece  of  fal- 
low, or  a  steep  hill,  or  any  other  kind  of  ground  calculated  to  tire 
the  horse. 

RIDING  TO  HOUNDS. 

THE  KIND  OF  SEAT  generally  adopted  in  riding  to  hounds  has 
been  already  described,  and  I  need  not  therefore  allude  to  it  again. 
I  may,  however,  remind  the  tyro  that  the  less  he  depends  upon 
balance,  and  the  stronger  hold  he  can  get  of  the  saddle  with  his 
knees  and  calves,  the  more  likely  he  will  be  to  avoid  a  fall  without 
his  horse  coming  down  also.  If  this  accident  happens,  a  loose  seat 
sometimes  befriends  the  rider  by  causing  him  to  be  thrown  out  of 
the  way  of  the  horse,  but  in  the  long  run  the  man  who  has  a  strong 
grip  of  his  saddle  will  fare  the  best.  Good  hands  and  judgment 
are  equally  necessary,  and  the  combination  of  these  three  qualities 
makes  up  the  finished  performer  across  country,  always  supposing 
the  presence  of  nerve  in  addition. 

THERE  ARE  CERTAIN  RULES  adopted  in  all  hunting  countries, 
which  must  be  stringently  carried  out  in  order  to  insure  the  safety 
of  the  hounds  and  horsemen,  and  avoid  those  disputes  which  would 
otherwise  constantly  occur  between  riders  jealous  of  each  other's 
prowess.  These  may  be  summed  up  in  the  following  plain  direc- 
tions : — 

WHEN  NEAR  THE  HOUNDS  keep  to  the  right  or  left  of  them,  and 
not  directly  behind,  where  you  are  always  in  danger  of  riding  over 
some  of  the  tail  hounds.  So  also  when  the  pack  are  crossing  a 
thick  fence,  when  there  is  often  only  one  gap  weak  enough  to  allow 
of  their  getting  over,  avoid  its  proximity,  and  take  a  place  at  least 
a  dozen  yards  off. 

INDEPENDENTLY  of  hounds,  every  rider  should  take  a  line  of 
his  own,  or  if  he  is  unable  to  do  this  and  must  follow  a  leader,  let 
him  keep  such  a  distance  behind  that  if  a  fall  takes  place  he  can 
avoid  jumping  upon  him.  In  a  large  field  of  horsemen,  every  one 
cannot  possibly  take  a  different  line,  nor  is  it  easy  to  keep  always 
at  a  safe  distance ;  but  at  big  places  there  is  generally  some  hesita- 
tion, and  a  proper  interval  can  be  maintained.  No  one  should 
attempt  to  pass  his  neighbor  either  on  the  right  or  left  of  the  line 
he  has  chosen,  when  near  a  fence;  but  of  course  this  is  not  to  de- 
prive him  of  his  chance  of  taking  the  lead  in  the  middle  of  a  large 
enclosure,  when  a  little  racing  can  do  no  harm.  By  the  adoption 
of  this  rule,  jostling  and  crowding  at  a  weak  place  are  avoided, 
which  without  it  would  be  sure  to  lead  to  serious  accidents. 

USE  YOUR  JUDGMENT  in  saving  your  horse  in  deep  ground, 
making  up  for  the  apparent  loss  by  putting  him  along  whenever  a 
sound  headland  or  good  turf  can  be  obtained.  It  is  not  going 
straight  over  sound  land  that  distresses  a  horse,  but  the  making 


RIDING  TO  HOUNDS.  241 

use  of  him  over  deep  ground,  and  at  the  wrong  time  Many  men 
seem  to  know  no  difference  between  sound  turf  and  rotten  or  wet 
arable,  and  will  kick  their  horses  along  over  high  ridge-and-furrow 
in  a  wet  clay  district,  at  a  pace  which  no  horse  can  bear  for  more 
than  a  mile  or  two  in  such  a  country.  A  workman  would  look 
out  for  headlands  or  footpaths,  &c. ;  and  would,  by  a  slight  detour, 
gain  upon  those  who  disdained  to  leave  the  line  even  for  a  few 
yards.  Wet  and  sticky  ridge-and-furrow  tires  a  horse  dreadfully, 
and  the  consequence  is,  that  if  he  is  pushed  over  it  he  speedily 
loses  his  powers  and  wind,  and  falls  in  a  very  ugly  way  at  the  first 
fence  he  comes  to  of  a  size  above  the  average.  Hence,  every  man 
who  aspires  to  go  well  to  hounds  must  learn  to  be  a  "judge  of 
pace,"  and  should  endeavor  to  make  out  the  signs  of  distress,  and 
the  best  way  of  avoiding  it.  So  much  depends  upon  condition 
and  breeding,  that  it  is  very  difficult  for  a  man  with  a  strange  horse 
to  know  what  liberties  he  may  take  with  him.  Some  well-bred 
ones  will  be  blown,  yet  if  nursed  they  will  come  again  and  again, 
while  the  dunghill-animal  will  give  up  when  once  he  has  lost  his 
wind,  and  is  gone  for  that  day  at  least.  In  ascending  steep  banks, 
a  careful  and  active  horseman  will  dismount  and  lead  his  horse  up, 
and  by  so  doing  often  gains  a  mile  or  two  upon  his  less  humane 
and  cautious  antagonist.  In  ascending  hills  it  is  often  expedient 
to  make  a  zigzag;  but  in  descending  you  can  never  go  too  straight, 
as  the  opposite  course  often  leads  to  a  dangerous  slip  on  the  side, 
with  a  crushed  knee  or  ankle  as  a  consequence.  Few  horses  fall 
forwards,  and  they  always  manage  to  save  themselves  by  slipping 
down  on  their  haunches.  This  is  a  point  of  great  importance,  and 
should  always  be  strictly  attended  to. 

THERE  ARE  TWO  GENERAL  DIRECTIONS,  which  will  serve  for 
almost  all  descriptions  of  fence.  These  are,  that  if  a  height  is  to 
be  overcome,  tlie  horse  should  be  taken  slowly  up  to  it,  in  a  col- 
lected manner,  with  his  haunches  well  under  him.  On  the  other 
hand,  width  requires  impetus,  and  the  pace  should  be  forced 
during  the  last  few  strides  up  to  a  very  high  rate.  Under  the 
former  head  may  be  classed  timber  (in  all  the  varieties  of  gates, 
single  posts  and  rails,  stiles,  and  palings),  walls,  strong  pleached 
fences,  and  banks.  To  the  latter  belong  water  in  all  shapes, 
double  posts-and-rails,  bullfinches,  and  those  fences  with  a  ditch 
on  both  sides,  as  well  as  those  which  have  a  wide  one  on  the  land- 
ing side.  In  addition  to  these  there  are  the  actual  standing  leap, 
seldom  practised  in  the  present  day,  the  creeping  style,  the  "  on 
and  off"  leap,  and  the  "  drop,"  which  is  a  variety  of  the  standing 
leap. 

IN  COLLECTING  THE  HORSE,  and  properly  putting  him  at  his 
fence,  there  is  a  great  art,  and  nothing  but  practice  will  give  it  in 
perfection.  Double-posts-and-rails  require  a  great  deal  of  collect- 
21  Q 


242  THE  HORSE. 

ing  and  roush.g,  and  the  horse  must  go  pretty  fast  at  them,  as  also 
must  he  at  all  wide  jumps,  including  water  in  all  its  forms.  One 
essential  is,  that  the  horse  shall  have  confidence  in  his  rider ;  for 
if  he  thinks  he  may  turn  to  the  right  or  left  he  will  most  probably 
do  so,  unless  he  is  very  fond  of  jumping.  Nervous  men  commu- 
nicate their  feelings  to  their  horses,  and  though  it  may  be  difficult 
to  explain  how  it  is  done,  there  is  no  doubt  of  the  fact.  It  is  re- 
markable how  soon  horses  find  out  what  kind  of  man  they  carry, 
and  how  they  alter  under  different  hands.  This  is  partly  owing 
to  a  mismanagement  of  the  mouth,  but  in  great  measure  also  to 
the  trepidation  of  the  rider.  Unless,  therefore,  he  has  full  confi- 
dence in  his  own  courage,  he  need  never  expect  his  horse  to  go 
steadily  and  straight  at  his  fences.  The  collecting  is  much  easier 
than  the  management  of  the  bit  at  the  leap  itself,  for  there  are  two 
opposite  things  to  be  done,  and  the  delicate  point  is  to  hit  the  mo- 
ment of  change  from  one  to  the  other  to  a  nicety.  The  first  is  to 
"  catch  hold  of  the  horse's  head,"  as  it  is  called — that  is,  to  bear 
more  or  less  upon  the  mouth,  pull  the  horse  on  his  haunches  and 
rouse  him,  either  by  voice,  heel,  or  whip.  This  lasts  till  the  mo- 
ment of  the  effort  made  to  rise  over  the  obstacle,  when  the  head 
should  be  released,  so  that  the  horse  may  have  all  his  bodily  powers 
at  his  command.  If  the  head  is  confined  the  haunches  do  not  act 
fully,  because  in  making  the  spring  the  head  is  protruded,  and  pain 
is  given  by  the  bit  if  it  is  still  held  fast;  and  hence,  to  avoid  the 
pain,  the  extension  does  not  take  place,  the  leap  is  not  made  with 
sufficient  spring  or  power,  and  the  horse  alights  too  near  the  ditch, 
if  there  is  one,  or  possibly  in  it.  But  in  releasing  the  head  judg- 
ment is  required,  for  if  the  rein  is  too  loose  the  horse  is  apt  to 
alight  in  such  a  position  that  he  is  "  all  abroad,"  and  without  great 
help  he  will  often  fall ;  hence,  most  good  performers,  though  they 
do  not  absolutely  confine  the  head,  yet  they  keep  a  very  gentle  and 
delicate  hold  of  the  mouth,  and  not  only  thus  prevent  the  horse 
over-extending  himself,  but  are  also  prepared  to  assist  him  if  he  is 
inclined  to  fall.  This  is  the  finished  style  of  riding,  and  is  only  in 
the  power  of  a  man  with  a  good  seat  as  well  as  good  hands.  Both 
are  wanted,  because  without  the  former  it  is  impossible  to  avoid 
"riding  the  bridle" — that  is,  holding  on  by  it  as  well  as  by  the 
saddle ;  and  without  good  hands  that  delicate  management  of  the 
bridle  which  I  have  attempted  to  describe  is  impracticable.  What 
is  called  "  lifting"  the  horse  is  sometimes  attempted  with  the  bit, 
but  I  do  not  recognise  its  utility.  When  a  horse,  is  likely  to  touch 
the  top  bar  of  a  gate,  or  in  any  way  to  use  too  small  an  effort,  a 
stroke  of  the  whip  down  the  shoulder  is  the  best  lift.  Rousing 
and  collecting  are  quite  distinct  from  lifting,  which  I  believe  to  be 
a  myth  altogether.  In  creeping,  good  hands  and  quietness  in  the 
saddle  are  the  chief  elements  of  success,  and  without  them  both, 


OUT-DOOR  VICES— SHT  ING.  243 

no  one  is  likely  to  do  much  in  this  particular  style ;  hence  it  is 
that  so  few  men  can  "  creep"  well,  even  though  they  have  horses 
accustomed  to  it  under  other  hands.  When  the  horse  has  been 
thoroughly  taught  to  creep,  his  head  may  almost  be  left  without 
control,  merely  guiding  him  quietly  to  the  gap,  and  then  letting 
him  take  his  own  way;  but  where  the  horse  has  to  be  made  to 
creep,  a  rein  should  be  taken  in  each  hand,  and  the  head  guided 
as  if  with  a  silken  thread,  to  the  right  or  left,  or  wherever  the  ani- 
mal is  required  to  go.  These  remarks  will  perhaps  be  useful  to  all 
who  have  no  experienced  friend  ready  to  afford  a  practical  demon- 
stration of  the  same  fundamental  points.  One  actual  lesson  in  the 
field  is  worth  all  the  reading  in  the  world;  but,  in  default  of  this, 
the  preceding  observations  will  serve  to  assist  the  young  aspirant 
for  honors  in  riding  to  hounds. 

OUT-DOOR  VICES  AND  BAD  HABITS. 

OUT-DOOR  VICES  depend  upon  the  temper  of  the  individual,  and 
include  shying,  rearing,  kicking,  lying  down,  plunging  or  buck- 
ing, shouldering,  and  running  away.  Bad  habits  arise  from  a  de- 
fective formation  of  the  body,  and  are  confined  to  stumbling  and 
cutting. 

SHYING  generally  arises  from  timidity,  but  sometimes  it  is  united 
with  cunning,  which  induces  the  animal  to  assume  a  fear  of  some 
object  for  the  sole  purpose  of  finding  an  excuse  for  turning  round. 
The  usual  cause  of  shying  is  doubtless  the  presence  of  some  object 
to  which  the  colt  has  not  been  accustomed,  and  if  he  has  buck 
eyes,  which  render  him  short-sighted,  it  will  be  difficult  to  con- 
vince him  of  the  innocent  nature  of  the  novel  object.  There  are 
endless  peculiarities  in  shying  horses,  some  being  dreadfully 
alarmed  by  one  kind  of  object,  which  to  others  is  not  at  all  for- 
midable. When  a  horse  finds  that  he  gains  his  object  by  turning 
round,  he  will  often  repeat  the  turning  without  cause,  pretending 
to  be  alarmed,  and  looking  out  for  excuses  for  it.  This  is  not  at 
all  uncommon,  and  with  timid  riders  leads  to  a  discontinuance  of 
the  ride,  by  which  the  horse  gains  his  end  for  the  time,  and  re- 
peats the  trick  on  the  first  occasion.  In  genuine  shying  from  fear 
the  eyes  are  generally  more  or  less  defective;  but  sometimes  this 
is  not  the  cause,  which  is  founded  upon  a  general  irritability  of 
the  nervous  system.  Thus,  there  are  many  horses  which  never 
shy  at  meeting  tilted  wagons,  or  other  similarly  alarming  objects, 
but  which  almost  drop  with  fear  on  a  small  bird  flying  out  of  a 
hedge,  or  any  other  startling  sound.  These  last  are  also  worse, 
because  they  give  no  notice  to  the  rider,  whereas  the  ordinary 
shyer  almost  always  shows  by  his  ears  that  he  is  prepared  to  turn 
round. 

THE  BEST  PLAN  OF  TREATMENT  which  can  be  adopted,  is  to 


244  THE  HORSE. 

take  as  little  notice  as  possible  of  the  shying,  and  to  be  especially 
careful  not  to  show  any  fear  of  its  recurrence  when  a  wagon  appears 
in  the  distance.  When  the  horse  begins  to  show  alarm,  but  not 
till  then,  the  rider  should  speak  encouragingly  to  him,  and,  if 
necessary,  with  a  severe  tone,  which  may  even  be  supported  by  the 
use  of  the  whip  or  spurs,  if  his  onward  progress  cannot  be  other- 
wise maintained.  The  principle  which  should  be  carried  out  is  to 
adopt  such  measures  as  will  get  the  horse  to  pass  the  object  at 
which  he  shies  somehow  or  other,  and  this  should  be  effected  with 
as  little  violence  as  possible,  always  commending  in  an  encouraging 
tone  as  soon  as  the  purpose  is  gained.  Nothing  has  so  great  a 
tendency  to  keep  up  the  habit  as  the  plan  so  common  among  igno- 
rant grooms,  of  chastising  the  shyer  after  he  has  passed  the  object 
of  his  alarm.  If  he  can  be  persuaded  to  go  quietly  up  to  it  and 
examine  it  with  his  muzzle  as  well  as  with  his  eyes,  great  good  will 
be  effected;  but  this  can  seldom  be  done  with  moving  wagons,  and 
heaps  or  stones  are  generally  only  alarming  from  defect  of  vision, 
so  that  each  time  they  assume  a  new  phase  to  the  active  imagina- 
tion of  the  timid  animal. 

REARING  is  seldom  met  with  excepting  among  raw  colts,  or  if  it 
is  continued  to  a  later  period  it  is  generally  incurable.  When  exist- 
ing in  an  aggravated  form  it  is  a  most  dangerous  vice,  as  a  fall 
backwards  over  the  rider  has  often  led  to  fatal  consequences. 

THE  USUAL  REMEDY  for  it  in  the  colt  is  the  ordinary  running 
martingale,  which  will  keep  down  the  rearer  who  is  merely  in- 
dulging in  his  playful  fancies.  When,  however,  the  vice  has  be- 
come confirmed,  nothing  short  of  severe  punishment  will  be  of  any 
service,  and  the  horsebreaker  generally  resorts  to  the  plan  of  knock- 
ing the  horse  down  as  he  rises  by  a  blow  between  the  ears  with  a 
loaded  crop.  This  stuns  the  horse  for  a  time,  and  alarms  him  so 
much  that  he  is  often  cured  by  one  act  of  the  kind ;  but  it  is  at- 
tended with  some  danger  of  injuring  the  horse,  and  the  rider  does 
not  always  escape.  Another  plan  adopted  by  active  breakers  is  to 
wait  till  the  horse  is  just  on  the  balance,  and  then  slipping  off  to 
the  left,  it  is  easy  to  pull  him  over  backwards;  but  this  also  is  often 
followed  by  severe  injury  to  the  horse  when  the  ground  is  hard. 
I  have  almost  invariably  found  that  bad  rearers  have  very  supple 
necks,  which  increases  the  difficulty  of  keeping  them  down  by  any 
kind  of  martingale,  and  probably  this  will  account  for  the  habit 
having  become  inveterate.  A  stiff-necked  horse  can  scarcely  rise 
high  if  his  head  is  confined  even  by  the  running  martingale ;  but 
when  the  side-straps  are  tightly  buckled  to  the  bit,  he  is  effectually 
restrained,  whereas  with  a  loose  neck  the  head  can  be  so  bent  in 
to  the  brisket  that  no  obstacle  is  offered.  In  such  cases  I  have 
known  a  cavesson  with  the  noseband  lined  with  sharp  prickers, 
and  the  martingale  buckled  to  it ;  a  m^«t  effectual  prevention,  as 


OUT-DOOR  VICES.  245 

the  slightest  pull  opens  it,  presses  the  prickers  into  the  dose  and 
gives  acute  pain.  Whenever  the  rider  finds  a  horse  inclined  to 
rise,  he  should  at  once  lean  forward,  and  after  ineffectually  trying 
the  martingale  to  keep  the  horse  down,  he  must  loose  his  head, 
or  he  will  be  almost  sure  to  bring  him  backwards  and  cause  a 
severe  fall. 

FOR  KICKERS,  except  when  the  habit  is  merely  a  mode  of  letting 
off  superfluous  spirits,  severity  is  the  only  remedy,  and  a  strong 
application  of  the  whip  down  the  shoulder  the  best  means  of  using 
it.  At  the  same  time  the  snaffle-reins  ought  to  be  firmly  held,  and 
by  their  means  the  head  kept  up,  for  there  is  always  a  tendency 
to  lower  this  part  in  the  act  of  kicking ;  the  gag  snaffle  is  very 
effectual  for  this  purpose. 

LYING  DOWN  is  rare  in  the  present  day,  being  chiefly  confined 
to  under-bred  horses  and  Welsh  ponies,  which  are  gradually  going 
out  of  use.  The  spur  is  the  only  means  likely  to  keep  a  stubborn 
brute  up ;  but  in  some  cases  its  application  is  followed  by  the  ani- 
mal throwing  himself  down  suddenly,  instead  of  gradually. 

PLUNGING  may  be  described  as  a  series  of  bounds  into  the  air, 
which  when  they  are  made  up  and  down  in  the  same  place,  or 
nearly  so,  are  called  "  bucking,"  from  their  resemblance  to  the 
playful  antics  of  the  deer.  A  bucking  horse  is  very  difficult  to  sit, 
but  by  sawing  the  mouth  with  a  twisted  snaffle  it  may  generally 
be  stopped  at  once. 

BY  SHOULDERING  is  understood  the  attempt  to  crush  the  leg  of 
the  rider  against  a  wall,  which  some  ill-tempered  horses  are  fond 
of  doing.  It  is  easily  avoided  by  pulling  the  horse's  head  round 
to  the  wall,  instead  of  from  it. 

RUNNING  AWAY  is  too  well  known  to  need  description.  In 
some  horses  it  is  a  species  of  temporary  madness,  and  scarcely  any 
bit,  however  severe,  will  stop  them.  When  there  is  room  and 
scope  enough,  the  remedy  is  simple,  but,  unfortunately,  runaway 
horses  generally  choose  a  crowded  thoroughfare  to  indulge  their 
fancies  in.  A  gallop  to  a  stand-still,  with  the  free  use  of  the  spur 
or  whip  at  the  latter  part  of  it,  will  sometimes  prevent  a  recurrence 
of  this  vicious  act;  but  where  the  tendency  is  very  strong  it  will 
have  little  effect.  Punishing  bits  only  make  some  high-couraged 
horses  worse,  but  the  majority  of  runaways  would  be  dangerous 
with  a  plain  snaffle  only,  and  yet  there  are  some  which  will  go 
quietly  enough  in  it,  while  the  adoption  of  a  curb  will  rouse  their 
tempers  at  once.  Of  course  they  can  only  be  ridden  with  great 
care  and  judgment,  and  must  never  be  roused  unnecessarily.  For- 
tunately the  mouths  of  horses  are  now  made  so  much  more  care- 
fully than  in  former  times,  and  their  management  is  so  much  better 
understood,  that  we  seldom  hear  of  or  see  an  accident  from  this 
cause,  either  in  the  saddle  or  in  harness.  The  most  e:  sential  part 
21* 


246  THE  HORSE. 

of  the  treatment  of  a  runaway  is  the  proper  selection  of  a  bit,  which 
should  be  sufficient  to  control  him  without  exciting  opposition  from 
the  pain  it  gives. 

STUMBLING  arises  from  a  variety  of  causes,  and  the  nature  of 
any  particular  case  should  be  thoroughly  investigated  before  any 
remedy  for  it  is  attempted.  Sometimes  it  is  merely  dependent 
upon  low  or  "  daisy  cutting"  action,  and  then  it  is  possible  that  it 
may  not  be  attended  with  danger.  I  have  known  many  horses 
which  would  stumble  at  least  every  half-mile,  but  yet  they  would 
travel  for  years  with  sound  knees,  the  other  leg  being  always  ready 
to  catch  the  weight.  In  other  cases  a  stumble  would  only  occur 
at  rare  intervals,  but  if  the  trip  was  made  it  was  rarely  recovered, 
and  a  fall  was  almost  sure  to  follow.  Again,  it  happens  with  some 
horses  that  when  they  are  fresh  out  of  the  stable,  their  action  is 
high  and  safe,  but  after  a  few  miles  the  extensors  of  the  leg  tire, 
arid  they  are  constantly  making  a  mistake.  Inexperienced  judges 
are  very  apt  to  examine  the  action  of  the  fore  legs  alone,  while  that 
of  the  hind  quarter  is  of  quite  as  much  importance  to  safety,  and 
is  more  so  as  regards  the  ease  of  the  rider.  Lameness  is  a  frequent 
source  of  a  fall,  from  the  tendency  to  put  the  foot  too  soon  to  the 
ground  in  order  to  take  the  weight  ojff  the  other.  And  lastly, 
upright  pasterns  will  produce  stumbling,  when  the  shoulders  are 
so  formed  that  the  foot  is  put  down  too  near  the  centre  of  gravity. 

THE  BEST  PLANS  FOR  REMEDYING  these  several  conditions  are 
as  follows.  If  the  cause  is  weakness  of  the  extensors  no  care  can 
be  of  much  service,  all  that  can  be  done  being  to  be  on  the  look 
out  for  a  trip,  and  then  to  take  the  weight  off  the  fore  quarter  as 
much  as  possible  by  sitting  well  back,  at  the  same  time  using  such 
an  amount  of  sudden  pressure  on  the  bit  as  to  cause  the  horse  to 
exert  himself,  without  any  attempt  to  keep  up  the  head  by  me- 
chanical force,  which  is  an  impossibility.  When  laziness  is  the 
cause,  the  stimulus  of  the  spur  or  whip  will  suffice,  and  it  often 
happens  that  a  horse  is  safe  enough  at  his  top  pace  while  a  slower 
one  is  full  of  danger.  In  lameness  of  course  the  remedy  is  to  wait 
till  the  foot  or  feet  are  sound  again. 

CUTTING  depends  either  upon  the  legs  being  set  on  too  near 
together,  or  on  their  joints  not  acting  in  a  proper  hinge-like  manner. 
Many  horses  cut  when  in  low  condition,  but  are  quite  free  from 
the  defect  when  in  flesh,  and  in. such  cases  it  is  only  necessary  to 
let  them  wear  a  boot  until  they  have  had  time  enough  to  become 
fresh.  Wherever  horses  u  go  close"  care  should  be  taken  that  the 
shoes  do  not  project  beyond  the  hoof,  and  the  clenches  of  the  nails 
should  be  carefully  watched,  the  groom  seeing  that  they  are  filed 
down  by  the  smith  if  they  stand  up  at  all  above  the  level  of  the 
horn.  Cutting  may  take  place  either  on  the  prominent  part  of  the 
fetlock-joint,  or  midway  between  it  and  the  knee,  or  just  below 


OUT-DOOR  VICES. 


247 


the  latter,  which  is  called  "  speedy  cutting,"  and  is  very  apt  to 
cause  a  fall.  A  boot  should  be  fitted  to  the  leg  in  either  case,  and 
worn  till  the  part  is  thoroughly  healed  and  all  swelling  has  disap- 
peared, when  if  any  likely  method  of  treatment  has  been  adopted 
the  horse  may  be  tried  without  it,  but  no  journey  should  be  under- 
taken without  one  in  the  pocket  in  case  it  may  be  needed.  A  pe- 
culiar method  of  shoeing,  called  a  feather-edged  shoe,  will  often 
prevent  this  bad  habit  as  long  as  it  is  adopted. 


THE 

ANATOMY  OF  THE  HORSE 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

CLASSIFICATION   OP  THE   VARIOUS    ORGANS,  AND    PHYSIOLOGY 
OF    THE    SKELETON. 

Classification  of  the  various  Organs — Structure  of  Bone —  Of  the. 
Skeleton  in  General — The  Artificial  Skeleton — Number  of  Bones 
composing  the  Skeleton — General  Anatomy  of  the  Spinal  Column 
— Of  the  Head  and  Face— Of  the  Hyoid  Arch—  Of  the  Thoracic 
Arch  and  Anterior  Extremities — Of  the  Pelvic  Arch  and  Hind 
Extremities — Of  the  Tail — Of  the  Fore  and  Hind  Extremities 
considered  as  Organs  of  Support  and  Locomotion. 

CLASSIFICATION  OF  THE  VARIOUS  ORGANS. 

THE  BODY  OF  THE  HORSE,  like  all  the  vertebrate  animals,  may 
be  considered  as  made  up  of  several  distinct  apparatuses  or  systems. 
Of  these,  the  first  is  a  machine  composed  of  the  bony  SKELETON, 
or  framework,  the  various  parts  of  which  are  united  by  JOINTS, 
and  moved  by  MUSCLES.  Secondly,  there  are  contained  within 
the  thorax  the  organs  which  supply  the  whole  body  with  the  means 
of  nutrition  in  the  form  of  blood,  and  purify  this  fluid.  Thirdly, 
in  the  abdomen  are  presented  to  view  the  important  organs  which 
assimilate  the  food  to  the  condition  of  the  blood;  while  in  the  ad- 
joining cavity,  the  pelvis,  are  the  urinary  and  generative  appara- 
tuses. Fourthly,  the  nervous  system  may  be  considered,  as  com- 
prising the  grand  centre  of  the  mental  faculties,  and,  also,  as  pre- 
siding over  and  controlling  the  whole  of  the  functions  performed 
by  the  several  organs ;  and  fifthly,  certain  special  organs,  as,  for 
example,  those  of  sense,  and,  likewise,  the  foot  will  complete  the 
circle. 

OF  THE  STRUCTURE  OF  BONE. 

THE  BONES  are  composed  of  a  tissue  peculiar  to  them,  enveloped 
by  a  membrane,  the  periosteum.  They  contain  a  semi-fluid  of  a 

(248) 


STRUCTURE  OF  BONE.  249 

fatty  nature,  the  marrow^  and  are  pierced  in  various  directions  by 
blood-vessels  and  nerves. 

THE  PROPER  TISSUE  of  the  bones  is  made  up  of  two  distinct 
substances,  either  of  which  may  be  removed  by  artificial  means, 
leaving  the  other  entire.  If,  for  instance,  a  bone  is  submitted  to 
the  heat  of  a  furnace,  it  retains  its  shape  and  rigidity,  but  becomes 
much  whiter  in  color,  and  is  rendered  extremely  brittle.  In  fact, 
the  mineral  salts  entering  into  its  composition  are  left,  but  the  ani- 
mal matter  binding  them  together  is  completely  decomposed  and 
carried  off  in  a  gaseous  form.  On  the  other  hand,  by  immersing 
a  bone  for  two  or  three  weeks  in  diluted  hydrochloric  acid,  the 
earthy  salts  are  dissolved,  while  the  animal  matter  is  untouched. 
Here  the  bone  retains  its  original  shape,  but  it  is  soft  and  flexible; 
arid  instead  of  presenting  its  usual  opaque  yellowish-white  color, 
it  is  semi-transparent,  and  resembles  the  ordinary  gelatine  of  the 
shops.  According  to  Berzilius,  bone  is  chemically  composed  of 
the  following  constituents — namely,  cartilage,  reducible  to  gelatine 
by  boiling ;  blood-vessels ;  phosphate  of  lime ;  carbonate  of  lime ; 
fluate  of  lime ;  phosphate  of  magnesia ;  soda  and  chloride  of 
sodium. 

Considered  mechanically,  the  bones  form  the  framework  of  the 
animal  machine.  In  the  limbs  they  are  hollow  cylinders,  admirably 
fitted  by  their  shape  and  texture  to  resist  violence  and  support 
weight.  In  the  trunk  and  head  they  are  flattened  and  arched,  to 
protect  the  contents  of  the  cavities  they  form,  and  to  provide  an 
extensive  surface  for  the  attachment  of  muscles.  In  certain  situa- 
tions their  exterior  is  raised  into  projections  called  processes,  which 
serve  as  levers  for  the  muscles  to  act  upon ;  in  others  they  are 
grooved  into  smooth  surfaces  for  the  easy  gliding  of  tendons,  when 
these  are  stretched  between  the  fleshy  part  of  a  muscle  and  one  of 
its  attachments.  Lastly,  they  sometimes  present  a  large  hollow  for 
the  lodgment  of  the  belly  of  a  muscle,  as  in  the  case  of  the  scapula. 

When  microscopically  examined,  bone  is  seen  to  be  made  up  of 
a  dense  and  homogeneous  substance  (basis  substance),  in  which 
are  numberless  minute  cells  (corpuscles  of  Purkinje).  The  basis 
substance  is  partially  fibrous  and  slightly  lamellated,  the  layers 
being  concentric  in  long  bones  and  parallel  in  flat;  it  is  traversed 
in  all  directions  (more  especially  in  the  long  axis,  where  there  is 
one)  by  canals  (Haversian  canals),  which  frequently  branch  and 
inosculate,  giving  passage  to  vessels  and  nerves.  In  certain  situa- 
tions the  lamellae  separate,  and  leave  between  them  spaces  of  va- 
rious sizes,  called  cancelli.  Besides  entering  into  the  composition 
of  the  basis  substance,  the  lamellae  are  collected  concentrically 
round  the  Haversian  canals,  the  boundaries  of  which  they  form, 
generally  to  the  extent  of  ten  to  fifteen  layers.  Both  the  compact 
and  spongy  tissues  are,  therefore,  composed  of  the  same  elementary 


250  THE  HORSE. 

structure,  the  former  being  especially  intended  to  afford  resistance 
to  violence  with  as  little  weight  as  is  consistent  with  its  office,  for 
which  reason  it  is  hollowed  into  a  tube;  while  the  latter  is  enlarged 
as  much  as  possible  without  unnecessarily  adding  to  its  weight, 
the  problem  being  solved  by  its  development  in  a  cellular  form. 

The  Periosteum  is  a  dense  fibrous  membrane  which  covers  every 
part  of  the  surface  of  the  bones,  excepting  their  extremities  when 
they  enter  into  the  composition  of  a  joint,  its  place  being  then 
occupied  by  cartilage.  When  this  membrane  covers  the  bones  of 
the  skull  it  is  called  pericranium,  and  when  it  invests  the  cartilages 
of  the  ribs  it  receives  the  name  perichondrium.  It  is  full  of  blood- 
vessels, especially  in  the  young,  and  they  freely  communicate  with 
those  of  the  surrounding  soft  parts.  Hence  it  is  extremely  liable 
to  inflammation,  either  caused  by  injury  to  itself  or  to  the  parts 
which  cover  it. 

The  marrow,  or  medullary  substance,  is  contained  in  the  cavities 
formed  within  the  bones,  being  of  a  yellow  color  and  oily  nature 
in  the  shafts  of  the  long  bones;  and  more  or  less  red,  from  the  ad- 
mixture with  blood,  in  the  flat  and  irregular  bones,  and  in  the 
heads  of  the  long  bones.  It  is  contained  within  the  areolar  meshes 
of  a  membrane,  which  lines  these  cavities,  answering  to  the  perios- 
teum, which  has  been  already  described.  This  medullary  mem- 
brane is  of  excessive  tenuity,  and  is  composed  of  blood-vessels  rami- 
fying in  fine  cellular  tissues.  The  use  of  marrow  in  the  animal 
economy  is  not  very  clearly  demonstrated. 

In  the  embryo,  all  the  bones  originally  exist  in  the  state  of  car- 
tilage, being  soft  and  flexible.  By  degrees  vascular  canals  are 
developed  within  its  substance,  by  the  union  of  its  cells  in  rows. 
These  concentrate  towards  some  one  or  more  points,  which  in  a 
long  bone  are  one  in  the  centre  of  the  shaft  and  one  at  each  ex- 
tremity. Starting  from  this  point  (punctum  ossificationis) ,  fibres 
run  out,  embracing  clusters  of  cells,  and  sending  branches  between 
the  individuals  composing  each  group.  In  this  manner  the  net- 
work, characteristic  of  bone,  is  formed,  the  cells  uniting  to  form 
the  permanent  areolse  and  Haversian  canals.  At  first  the  contents 
of  the  cells  are  transparent,  then  granular,  and  finally  opaque,  from 
the  pressure  of  amorphous  mineral  matter.  The  several  ossified 
portions  are  quite  distinct  for  a  long  time  in  the  young  animal,  and 
may  readily  be  separated  by  boiling  or  maceration. 

OF  THE  SKELETON  IN  GENEKAL. 

THE  NAME  SKELETON  has  been  given  from  the  Greek  word 
ffz&Mat  (to  dry},  it  being  the  only  part  of  the  body  which  will  bear 
desiccation  without  change  of  form.  In  the  verteurata  it  is  an  in- 
ternal bony  framework,  but  in  the  Crustacea  it  invests  the  soft 
parts,  and  forms  an  insensible  covering  to  them,  while  at  the  same 


THE  SKELETON.  251 

time  it  serves  the  purpose  of  locomotion.  In  both  these  divisions 
of  the  animal  kingdom  the  skeleton  forms  a  series  of  arches  or 
rings,  capable  of  moving  on  each  other,  but  so  firmly  attached  as 
to  secure  protection  to  the  important  organs  contained  within  them. 
In  the  horse,  as  in  all  the  higher  mammalia,  these  rings  or  arches 
are  double — one  set,  the  superior,  being  continuous  throughout  the 
whole  length  of  the  animal  from  the  head  to  the  root  of  the  tail, 
and  containing  the  nervous  system ;  while  the  other  lying  below, 
but  closely  connected  to  them,  is  interrupted  in  certain  localities, 
being  found  to  exist  chiefly  in  three  regions  : — 1st,  where  it  forms 
the  jaws  and  bone  of  the  tongue;  2d,  where,  by  means  of  the  ribs 
and  sternum,  it  constitutes  the  thorax  and  its  appendages,  the  an- 
terior extremities;  and,  thirdly,  where,  in  the  shape  of  the  pelvic 
arch,  it  protects  the  organs  of  generation,  and,  through  the  poste- 
rior extremities  prolonged  from  it,  assists  in  locomotion.  The 
superior  of  these  arches,  from  containing  the  brain,  and  its  pro- 
longation, the  spinal  cord,  is  called  the  neural  arch.  The  inferior 
is  termed  the  haemal  arch  (al/ia,  blood*),  because  it  protects  the 
heart  and  its  large  blood-vessels  as  the  latter  pass  from  the  thorax 
towards  the  head  and  posterior  extremities.  In  all  the  vertebrata 
the  neural  arch  consists  of  one  continuous  cavity,  defended  from 
end  to  end  by  bony  plates,  strongly  joined  together;  and  in  some 
of  the  lower  forms  (lizards)  the  haemal  arch  is  nearly  as  complete, 
these  animals  having  cervical  ribs ;  while -the  dugong  and  some 
others  are  furnished  with  ribs  in  their  tails.  Consequently,  it  is 
fair  to  consider  the  whole  skeleton  in  the  superior  forms  of  the 
animal  kingdom  as  composed  of  two  series  of  arched  plates,  firmly 
united  together,  but  still  allowing  more  or  less  motion,  and  serving 
to  protect  the  centres  of  the  nervous  and  sanguineous  systems, 
from  which  they  have  received  their  names. 

THE  ARTIFICIAL  SKELETON. 

THE  BONES  of  the  Horse,  as  of  the  other  mammalia,  may  be 
preserved  with  their  natural  ligamentous  attachments  connecting 
them  in  a  dry  state,  in  which  condition  the  skeleton  is  called  a 
natural  one.  It  is  usual,  however,  to  macerate  them  so  long  that 
all  the  soft  parts  readily  separate,  leaving  the  bones  without  any 
of  the  ligaments  or  cartilages  which  are  firmly  fixed  to  them  during 
life.  They  are  then  put  together  by  wires,  &c.,  the  cartilages  being 
represented  by  leather  and  cork.  In  this  way  it  often  happens 
that  the  proportions  are  not  exactly  preserved,  and,  on  reference 
to  an  articulated  skeleton  in  any  museum,  the  inexperienced  eye 
may  be  greatly  misled.  Thus  it  is  very  common  to  represent  the 
thorax  in  the  artificial  skeleton  as  much  shallower  than  it  is  in 
nature,  where  its  lower  margin  is  on  the  average  about  midway 
between  the  top  of  the  withers  an4  the  ground.  Again,  in  the 


252  THE  HORSE. 

fresh  state,  the  intervertebral  fibro-cartilage  is  in  sojie  parts  of  the 
spine  of  considerable  thickness;  and  if  the  proper  substance  is  not 
artificially  supplied,  the  skeleton  will  be  too  short,  or  if  too  thick 
a  material  is  added  it  will  be  too  long.  In  the  engraving  of  the 
skeleton  occupying  the  opposite  page,  which  is  drawn  from  the 
skeleton  in  the  Museum  of  the  Veterinary  College  of  London,  the 
spine  is  correctly  represented,  but  the  thorax  is  too  shallow,  and 
the  scapula,  together  with  the  whole  fore  extremity,  is  placed  too 
far  forward. 

NUMBER  OF  BONES  COMPOSING  THE  SKELETON. 

THE  SKELETON  is  composed  of  two  hundred  and  forty-seven 
separate  bones,  which  are  united  by  joints  to  form  the  spine,  tho- 
rax, pelvis,  tail,  and  fore   and  hind  extremities.     The  spine  is 
finished  anteriorly  by  the  head,  which  is  divided  into  the  cranium 
and  face,  and  contains  the  teeth.     Suspended  from  the  head  is  the 
os  hyoides,  which  completes  the  number  of  bones.     Thus  : — 
THE  SPINE  consists  of  7  cervical,  18  dorsal,  and  6  lumbar  ver- 
tebrae— Total 31 

THE  THORAX  is  made  up  of  the  dorsal  vertebrae,  with  18  ribs 

on  each  side,  and  the  sternum  in  the  middle — Total      .     .     37 
THE  PELVIS  comprises  2  ossa  innominata  (or  ilium,  ischium, 

and  pubes),  and  1  sacrum — Total 3 

THE  TAIL  contains  on  the  average  17  bones 17 

THE  FORE  EXTREMITY  is  made  up  on  each  side  of  the  scapula, 
humerus,  os  brachii,  and  8  carpal  bones,  3  metacarpal,  os 
suffraginis,  os  coronae,  os  pedis,  os  naviculare,  2  ossa  sesa- 

moidea — Total  on  both  sides 40 

THE  HIND  EXTREMITY  has  the  femur,  patella,  tibia,  fibula,  6 
tarsal  bones,  3  metatarsals,  os  suffraginis,  os  coronas,  os 
pedis,  os  naviculare,  2  ossa  sesamoidea — Total  ....  38 

BONES  OF  THE  CRANIUM     .       .       .      .      V 10 

BONES  OF  THE  FACE  AND  LOWER  JAW 18 

TEETH 40 

BONES  OF  THE  INTERNAL  EAR,  4  in  each  organ 8 

Os  HYOIDES,  OR  BONE  OF  THE  TONGUE,  made  up  of  five  sec- 
tions .  5 


Grand  total     .     .     ;     ..  i     .  247 
GENERAL  ANATOMY  OF  THE  SPINAL  COLUMN. 

THE  VERTEBRAL  OR  SPINAL  COLUMN  is  the  first  rudiment  of 
internal  skeleton  seen  in  the  lower  vertebrate  animals,  and  this 
constitutes  the  type  of  that  great  division  of  the  animal  kingdom. 
In  the  horse,  also,  it  is  the  portion  of  the  skeleton  first  developed 
in  the  embryo,  and  forms  the  centre  around  which  all  the  other 


SPINAL  COLUMN— HEAD  AND  FACE.  253 

parts  aro  framed.  At  its  first  appearance  it  is  a  cartilaginous 
cylinder,  surrounding  and  protecting  the  primitive  trace  of  the 
nervous  system ;  but  as  the  embryo  increases  in  growth,  points  of 
ossification  are  developed  corresponding  to  each  vertebra,  the  whole 
tube  being  finally  divided  into  distinct  pieces  called  vertebr&e,  to 
which  the  bones  of  the  head  are  a  prolongation,  corresponding  in 
their  nature,  though  differing  outwardly  in  form. 

The  vertebrae,  are  divisible  into  true  and  false,  the  former  reach- 
ing from  the  head  to  the  pelvis,  and  the  latter  extending  thence 
backward,  being  respectively  called  the  sacrum  and  coccyx. 

The  true  vertebrae,  comprise  the  7  cervical,  18  dorsal,  and  6  lum- 
bar vertebrae.  Each  consists  of  a  body,  from  which  two  laminae 
or  plates  project  upwards,  terminating  in  a  spinous  process.  In 
addition  to  these  are  two  lateral  projections  (transverse  processes), 
which  serve  the  purpose  of  firmly  connecting  the  vertebrae  together 
by  means  of  the  muscles  attached  to  them,  and  also  to  the  ribs  and 
extremities  below.  Lastly,  each  vertebra  has  two  small  surfaces 
before  and  the  same  number  behind  (articular  surfaces),  which 
form  distinct  joints  between  them. 

Between  the  body,  the  laminae,  and  the  spinous  process,  is  an 
opening,  more  or  less  triangular  in  shape,  in  which  lie  the  spinal 
cord  and  its  investments.  The  edges  of  this  opening  are  attached 
to  those  before  and  behind  by  ligamentous  tissues  (ligamenta  sub- 
flava.),  which,  opposite  each  intervertebral  space,  are  pierced  by 
openings  on  each  side  to  give  exit  to  the  vertebral  nerves  passing 
out  to  the  exterior  of  the  body  and  to  the  extremities.  Opposite 
to  these  openings  the  bone  is  notched  above  and  below,  and  these 
intervertebral  notches  complete  the  parts  common  to  the  whole 
series.  Thus  the  vertebral  or  spinal  column  serves  as  a  firmlv  se- 
cured but  flexible  tube  for  the  lodgment  of  the  spinal  cord,  *  -hile 
at  the  same  time  it  gives  passage  to  its  nerves.  By  this  forn  ation 
it  is  far  less  liable  to  injury,  and  also  more  useful  as  an  aid  to  loco- 
motion, than  if  it  were  made  of  one  solid  piece  of  bone,  which,  from 
its  length,  would  be  readily  broken. 

OF  THE  HEAD  AND  FACE,  AND  OF  THE  HYOID  ARCH. 

MODERN  ANATOMISTS,  following  out  the  idea  first  suggested  by 
Maclise  and  Owen,  consider  the  head  as  made  up  of  six  vertebrae ; 
the  posterior  one,  or  that  nearest  to  the  neck,  being  the  occipital 
bone,  the  next  two  being  made  up  of  the  temporal  bone,  and  the 
ultimate  vertebrae  consisting  of  the  sphenoid  and  aethmoid  bones. 
This  is  a  somewhat  fanciful  hypothesis,  when  worked  out  in  detail ; 
but  it  is  obvious  that  the  several  bones  of  the  skull  subserve  the 
same  purposes  as  the  vertebrae,  and  resemble  those  parts  of  the 
skeleton  in  forming  a  series  of  irregular  arches  to  protect  the 
90 


254  THE  HORSE. 

brain,  the  division  into  separate  pieces  being  far  more  secure  than 
if  the  whole  were  in  one. 


FIG.  1. — PROFILE  Vir\V  OF  THE  HEAD  AND  FACE. 

1.  Occiput.  7.  Malar  bone. 

2.  Parietal  bone.  8.  Posterior  maxillary  bone. 

3.  Frontal  bone.  9—11.  Nasal  bone. 

4.  Petrous  portion  of  temporal  bone.  10.  Anterior  maxillary  bone. 

5.  Zygomatic  arch  11.  Temporal  fossa. 

6.  Lachrymal  bone.  1'2,  13.  Lower  jaw. 

THE  BONES  OF  THE  FACE,  including  the  lower  jaw  and  os 
hyoides,  depend  from  the  neural  arch  or  brain-case  much  in  the 
same  way  as  the  ribs  and  pelvic  bones  posterior  to  them  are  at- 
tached to  the  vertebrae,  and  though  they  enclose  organs  of  less  vital 
importance,  yet  they  are  perfectly  analogous  to  these  parts  in  their 
types  and  in  the  offices  which  they  perform. 

OF  THE  THORACIC  AECH  AND  ANTERIOR  EXTREMITIES. 

LYING  IN  THE  HORSE  AT  SOME  DISTANCE  POSTERIORLY  to  the 
three  first  segments  of  the  haemal  arch  (the  bones  of  the  face,  lower 
jaw,  and  os  hyoides),  and  separated  from  them  by  the  neck,  where 
there  is  a  hiatus,  the  thoracic  arch  and  anterior  extremities  de- 
pend from  the  vertebrae  corresponding  to  them.  In  many  of  the 
higher  vertebrates  the  fore  extremity  is  firmly  united  by  a  joint 
to  the  thorax,  and  may  be  considered  with  it ;  but  in  the  horse  it 
is  only  attached  by  muscles,  the  thorax  being  slung  between  the 
upper  edges  of  the  blade-bones  by  means  of  two  broad  sheets  of 
muscular  fibres.  Hence  the  collar-bone  is  entirely  absent  in  this 
animal ;  and  thus,  while  he  is  free  from  dislocations  and  fractures 
of  that  bone,  to  which  he  would  be  constantly  subject  if  it  were 
present,  he  is  rendered  more  liable  to  strains  and  rheumatic  in- 
flammations of  the  muscular  sling,  hy  which  freedom  of  action  is 
impaired. 


THE  SKELETON.  255 

IN  THE  ARTICULATED  SKELETON  it  is  usual  to  consider  the 
thorax  as  made  up  by  the  eighteen  dorsal  vertebras  superiorly,  the 
eighteen  ribs  and  their  cartilages  on  each  side,  and  the  sternum 
with  its  cartilages  below.  But  the  cavity  of  the  thorax,  as  bounded 
by  the  diaphragm  posteriorly,  is  not  nearly  so  large  as  would  be 
supposed  from  a  consideration  of  the  dry  skeleton,  for  though  the 
diaphragm  is  attached  to  the  twelve  posterior  ribs  near  their  car- 
tilages, yet  its  surface  is  so  convex  towards  the  thoracic  cavity, 
that  a  very  large  space  within  the  bony  thorax  is  really  occupied 
by  the  abdominal  organs. 

THE  PELVIC  ARCH  AND  HIND  EXTREMITIES. 

BEHIND  THE  THORAX  occurs  a  second  interval  corresponding 
to  the  loins,  where  the  haemal  arch  is  deficient;  but  at  the  pelvis 
the  circle  is  completed  by  the  bones  of  the  ischium,  ilium,  and 
pubes,  united  to  the  sacrum  above,  and  having  the  hind  extremi- 
ties firmly  articulated  to  them  at  the  hip  joints.  The  pelvis  con- 
stitutes not  only  a  firm  and  solid  case  for  the  protection  of  the 
large  blood-vessels,  and  of  the  urinary  and  genital  organs,  but  it  is 
also  intimately  connected  with  locomotion,  to  which  the  posterior 
extremities  largely  contribute. 

THE  TAIL. 

THIS  ORGAN  appears  to  be  intended  chiefly  to  protect  the  body 
from  insects ;  but  it  also  serves  to  some  extent  as  an  aid  in  bal- 
ancing the  body  when  rapidly  moving  in  any  new  direction.  It  is 
made  up  of  from  fifteen  to  eighteen  bones. 

THE  FORE  AND  HIND  EXTREMITIES  CONSIDERED  AS 
ORGANS  OF  SUPPORT  AND  LOCOMOTION. 

REGARDING  THE  LIMBS  AS  MEANS  OF  SUPPORT,  it  must  be  re- 
membered that  the  fore  limbs  are  nearer  the  centre  of  gravity, 
arid,  therefore,  sustain  more  weight  than  the  hind.  The  fore 
quarter  is  suspended  between  the  bases  of  the  two  shoulder-blades, 
chiefly  by  the  serrati  magni,  and  in  such  a  way  as  to  require-  no 
special  muscular  contraction.  The  four  parts  of  which  the  limb 
itself  is  composed  being  bent  at  various  angles,  are  prevented  from 
giving  way  by  the  muscular  actions  of  the  extensors  of  the  hu- 
merus  and  ulna,  the  carpus  (or  knee)  having  little  tendency  to 
yield,  and  the  pastern  being  supported  by  the  flexor  muscles  and 
suspensory  ligament.  The  hinder  limbs,  though  sustaining  less 
weight,  are  not  so  favorably  circumstanced  for  this  purpose,  the 
angles  between  their  several  parts  being  generally  more  acute. 
But  if  these  are  attentively  regarded,  there  is  not  so  much  differ- 
ence  as  is  generally  supposed.  Thus,  the  first  joint,  the  ilio-fe- 
moral,  forms  a  less  acute  angle  than  its  analogue,' the  shoulder 


256  THE  HORSE. 

joint.  Again,  though  the  stifle  joint  is  considerably  bent,  it  is  not 
more  so  than  the  elbow  joint,  which  will  be  clear  on  comparing 
the  two  in  the  skeleton  given  at  page  252.  The  chief  disadvan- 
tage sustained  by  the  hind  limbs  as  means  of  support  will  be  found 
in  the  hock,  as  compared  with  the  knee,  the  latter  being  nearly 
straight,  while  the  former  is  much  bent ;  but  as  it  has  a  long  lever 
to  assist  it  (the  os  calcis),  and  as  this  is  kept  in  position  by  the 
powerful  hamstring  muscles,  each  of  which  serves  its  purpose  far 
more  completely  than  the  flexor  of  the  carpus  inserted  in  the  os 
pisiforme,  it  may  readily  be  understood  that  the  hind  limb  is  not 
greatly  at  a  disadvantage  in  supporting  the  weight  of  the  body. 

As  AGENTS  OF  LOCOMOTION,  the  offices  of  the  fore  and  hind 
limbs  are  widely  different.  Each  has  been  already  described  as 
consisting  of  four  sections,  bent  at  angles  on  each  other.  In  the 
fore  limb  these  angles  are  framed  to  serve  as  springs,  so  that  when 
the  feet  touch  the  ground,  they  are  enabled  to  adapt  themselves  so 
as  to  avoid  altering  the  line  of  progression  of  the  body.  In  those 
animals  which  have  small  and  short  fore  legs,  as  the  kangaroo  and 
hare,  the  most  rapid  locomotion  ever  consists  in  a  series  of  curves; 
whereas,  in  the  horse  at  full  speed,  the  body  progresses  in  one 
straight  line,  owing  to  this  elastic  structure  of  the  anterior  limbs. 
So,  also,  in  descending  from  an  extraordinary  lenp,  the  springy  ac- 
tion of  the  fore  limbs  of  the  horse  is  so  powerful  that  he  can  get 
off  again  without  dwelling,  whereas  the  kangaroo  and  hare  must 
depend  almost  entirely  upon  their  hind  legs,  and  consequently  stop 
for  a  second  after  their  descent.  .  On  the  other  hand,  the  angular 
formation  of  the  hind  limbs  is  intended  to  enable  the  animal  to 
drive  its  whole  body  forward,  by  first  flexing  all  the  joints,  and 
thus  drawing  the  feet  under  the  belly ;  and  then  suddenly  ex- 
tending them  with  the  feet  fixed  in  the  ground,  the  weight  is  ne- 
cessarily propelled.  Or  if  the  feet  are  not  fixed  they  are  lashed 
out  backwards,  developing  the  action  so  well  known  as  "  kicking." 
The  difference  between  the  powers  displayed  by  the  two  limbs,  in 
straightening  their  component  parts,  is  well  displayed  in  comparing 
kicking  with  the  striking  out  of  the  fore  foot,  which  is  common 
enough  among  vicious  horses.  It  is  true  that  the  latter  will  some- 
times cause  a  severe  blow ;  but  it  could  very  rarely  break  a  limb, 
which  is  the  least  amount  of  mischief  to  be  apprehended  from  the 
full  force  of  a  lash  out  with  the  hinder  limb. 


THE  TEETH. 


257 


CHAPTEE   XIV. 
THE    TEETH. 

THE  TEETH  are  developed  within  their  appropriate  cavities  or 
sockets,  which  are  found  exactly  corresponding-  with  their  number 
in  the  upper  and  lower  jaws,  being  narrower  in  the  lower  than  in 
the  upper.  Before  birth  they  are  nearly  all  in  a  state  of  incom- 
plete growth,  covered  and  concealed  by  the  gums,  but  soon  after- 
wards they  rise  through  it  in  pairs,  the  first  set,  or  milk  teeth, 
being  in  course  of  time  superseded  by  the  permanent  teeth  as  in 
all  the  mammalia.  The  following  is  the  formula  of  the  complete 
dentition  of  the  horse  : — 

Incisors  f,  canine  |,  molars  ||. 

EACH  TOOTH  is  developed  within  its  corresponding  cavity  in  the 
jaw,  and  is  made  up  of  three  distinct  substances — cement,  enamel, 
and  dentine.  The  cement  of  the 
horse's  tooth  (sometimes  called 
crusta  petrosa)  closely  corresponds 
in  texture  with  his  bone,  and, 
like  it,  is  traversed  by  vascular 
canals.  The  enamel  is  the  hardest 
constituent  of  the  tooth,  and  con- 
sists of  earthy  matter  arranged  in 
the  animal  matrix,  but  contained 
in  canals,  so  as  to  give  the 
striated  appearance  which  it  pre- 
sents on  splitting  it  open.  Den- 
tine has  an  organized  animal  ba- 
sis, presenting  extremely  minute 
tubes  and  cells,  and  containing 
earthly  particles,  which  are  partly 
blended  with  the  animal  matter  in 
its  interspaces,  and  partly  con- 
tained in  a  granular  state  within 
its  cells.  These  three  substances 
are  shown  in  the  annexed  section 
of  an  incisor  tooth,  see  Fig.  2, 
which  is  of  the  natural  size. 

IN  THE  MOLAR  teeth  the  ar- 
rangement of  these  three  sub- 
stances is  the  same,  except  that  the 
cement  and  enamel  dip  down  into 
two  or  more  cavities  instead  of  one,  and  are  also  reflected  in  a  sinu- 
ous manner  upon  the  sides.  This  inequality  in  the  hardness  of  the 
22*  R 


PIG.  2.— SECTION  OF  INCISOR. 

c.  Cement  on  external  surface. 

c.  Cement  reflected  within  the  cavity. 
e.  Knamel  also  reflected. 

d.  Dentine. 

s.  Tartar,  colored  black  by  decomposi 
tion  of  food,  contained  within  the 
cavity. 


258  THE  HORSE. 

component  parts  of  these  teeth  causes  them  to  wear  away  with 
different  degrees  of  rapidity,  and  thus  leaves  a  rough  surface, 
which  materially  aids  in  grinding  down  the  hard  grain  which 
forms  a  large  portion  of  the  animal's  food.  In  the  upper  jaw,  the 
table  presented  by  each  molar  tooth  is  much  larger  than  those  of 
the  corresponding  lower  teeth,  and  therefore  it  is  easy  to  distinguish 
the  one  from  the  other. 

THE  TEMPORARY  OR  MILK  INCISORS  differ  in  shape  a  good  deal 
from  the  permanent  set  The  milk  teeth  are  altogether  much 
smaller,  but  especially  in  the  neck,  which  is  constricted  in  them, 
whilst  in  the  permanent  set,  which  go  on  growing  as  they  wear  out, 
the  diameter  is  nearly  the  same  throughout.  The  former  are  also 
whiter  in  color,  and  have  grooves  or  indentations  on  their  outer 
surfaces,  running  towards  the  gum.  Lastly,  the  mark  on  the  table 
is  much  slighter  than  in  the  permanent  teeth.  The  temporary 
molars  are  not  distinguishable  from  the  permanent  teeth  of  that 
class. 

AS   A    CONSEQUENCE    OF    THIS    ARRANGEMENT    OF    PARTS,  the 

teeth,  as  they  wear  down,  present  a  different  appearance  according 
to  the  extent  to  which  their  attrition  has  reached.  On  this  fact  is 
founded  a  means  of  arriving  at  a  knowledge  of  the  age  of  the 
horse  after  he  has  shed  his  milk  teeth,  which  as  a  rule  he  does  in 
pairs  at  certain  fixed  periods.  In  order,  therefore,  to  be  able  to 
estimate  the  age  of  the  horse  from  his  teeth,  it  is  necessary  to 
ascertain,  as  nearly  as  may  be,  the  exact  time  at  which  he  puts  up 
each  pair  of  his  milk  or  sucking  teeth,  and  afterwards  the  periods 
at  which  they  are  replaced  by  the  permanent  teeth.  Finally,  it 
becomes  the  province  of  the  veterinarian  to  lay  down  rules  for 
ascertaining  the  age  from  the  degree  of  attrition  which  the  per- 
manent teeth  have  undergone.  For  these  several  purposes,  the 
horse's  mouth  must  be  studied  from  the  earliest  period  of  his  life 
up  to  old  age. 

In  horseman's  language  the  incisors  are  called  nippers,  the 
canine  teeth  tushes,  and  the  molars  grinders. 

BY  THE  END  OF  THE  FIRST  YEAR  the  colt  has  cut  his  twelve 
nippers  and  sixteen  grinders,  which  usually  pierce  the  gums  at  the 
following  months.  Before  birth,  the  eight  anterior  grinders  have 
generally  shown  themselves,  followed  about  a  weeek  after  foaling 
by  the  two  central  nippers.  At  the  end  of  the  first  month  another 
grinder  makes  its  appearance  all  round,  and  in  the  middle  of  the 
second  the  next  nipper  shows  itself.  By  the  end  of  the  second 
month  the  central  nippers  have  attained  their  full  size,  and  the 
second  are  about  half-grown,  requiring  another  month  to  overtake 
their  fellows.  Between  the  sixth  and  ninth  months  the  corner 
nippers  are  cut,  and  towards  the  end  of  the  first  year  reach  their 
full  size.  This  first  set  of  nippers  consists  of  teeth  considerably 


THE  TEETH 


259 


smaller  in  size  than  the  permanent  teeth  and  somewhat  different 
in  shape.  They  are  more  rounded  in  front,  and  hollow  towards 
the  mouth,  the  outer  edge  being  at  first  much  higher  than  the 
inner.  As  they  wear  down,  these  two  edges  soon  become  level, 
but  the  corner  nippers  maintain  this  appearance  for  a  long  time. 
At  six  months  the  central  nippers  are  almost  level,  with  the  black 
"mark"  in  their  middle  wide  and  faint;  and  about  the  ninth 
month  the  next  nipper  on  each  side  above  and  below  is  also  worn 
down  almost  to  a  level  surface. 

DURING  THE  SECOND  YEAR  the  following  changes  take  place  : — • 
In  the  first  month,  and  sometimes  towards  the  end  of  the  first 
year,  a  fourth  grinder  is  cut  all  round,  which  commences  the  set 
of  permanent  teeth,  the  three  first  molars  only  being  shed.  At  a 
year  and  a  half,  the  mark  in  the  central  nippers  is  much  worn  out, 
and  has  become  very  faint;  the  second  is  also  worn  flat,  but  is  not 
so  faint;  and  the  corner  nippers  are  flat,  but  present  the  mark 
clearly  enough.  In  colts  which  have  been  reared  on  corn  and 
much  hay,  the  wearing  down  proceeds  more  rapidly  than  in  those 
fed  upon  grass  alone. 

THE  THIRD  YEAR  is  occupied  by  the  commencement  of  the 
second  dentition,  which  is  effected  in  the  same  order  in  which  the 


FlQ.   3. — THREE-YEAR-OLD  MJUTH. 


B.  Anterior  maxillary  bone. 

1.  1  -Central  permanent  nippers,  nearly 

full-grown. 

2.  2.  Milk  teeth  worn  down. 


3.  3.  Corner  milk  teeth,  still  showing  cen- 

tral mark. 

4.  4.  Tushes  concealed  within  the  jaw. 


milk  teeth  made  their  appearance.     Both  sets  are  contained  within 
the  jaw  at  birth,  the  permanent  teeth  being  small  and  only  par- 


260  THE  HORSE. 

tially  developed,  and  lying  deeper  than  the  milk  teeth.  As  the 
inouth  grows,  it  becomes  too  large  for  its  first  set  of  teeth  ;  and  the 
roots  of  these  being  pressed  upon  by  the  growth  of  the  permanent 
set,  their  fangs  are  absorbed,  and  allow  the  new  teeth  to  show 
themselves,  either  in  the  places  of  the  former,  or  by  their  sides,  in 
which  case  they  are  known  by  the  name  of  wolf's  teeth.  This 
change  proceeds  in  the  same  order  as  the  cutting  of  the  milk 
teeth,  commencing  with  the  first  grinder,  which  is  shed  and  re- 
placed by  a  permanent  tooth  early  in  the  third  year,  a  fifth  grinder 
(permanent)  making  its  appearance  about  the  same  time.  Towards 
the  end  of  this  year  the  sixth  grinder  shows  itself,  but  grows  very 
slowly,  and  the  central  nippers  above  and  below  fall  out,  and  are 
replaced  by  permanent  ones,  which,  as  before  remarked,  are  con- 
siderably larger  in  size  and  somewhat  different  in  form. 

AT  THREE  YEARS  the  mouth  presents  the  appearance  shown  on 
the  preceding  page,  the  development  of  the  permanent  teeth  vary- 
ing a  good  deal  in  different  individuals.  At  three  years  and  four 
or  six  months,  the  next  nipper  all  round  falls  out,  and  is  replaced 
by  the  permanent  tooth.  The  corner  nippers  are  much  worn,  and 
the  mark  in  them  is  nearly  obliterated.  About  this  time  also  the 
second  grinder  is  shed. 

AT  FOUR  YEARS  OP  AGE,  the  mouth  should  differ  from  that 


FIG.  4.— MOUTH  OF  THE  COLT  AT  FODR  AND  A  HALF  TEARS. 

A.  Anterior  maxillary  bone.  of  growth,   with   the   edges   of  the 

1.  1.  Central    nippers,    considerably    worn  cavity  sharp,   and    the   mark   very 

down.  plain. 

2.  2.  The  next  pair,  fully  developed,  with       4.  4.  The  tushes  showing  themselves  through 

their  edges  slightly  worn.  the  gum,  but  not  full-grown. 

8.^  3.  Corner  permanent  nippers,  in  a  state 

represented  in  fig.  3  in  the  following  particulars : — The  central 
nippers  begin  to  lose  their  sharp  edges,  and  have  grown  consider- 


THE  TEETH. 


261 


ably  in  substance.  The  next  nipper  all  round  has  grown  nearly 
to  its  full  size,  but  not  quite,  and  its  edges  are  still  sharp,  with  the 
mark  deep  and  very  plain.  The  corner  milk  nippers  still  remain, 
unless  they  have  been  knocked  out  for  purposes  of  fraud,  which 
is  sometimes  done  to  hasten  the  growth  of  the  permanent  teeth, 
and  give  the  horse  the  appearance  of  being  four  or  five  months 
older  than  he  is. 

BETWEEN  FOUR  AND  A  HALF  AND  FIVE  YEARS,  the  corner 
nippers  are  shed,  and  the  tush  protrudes  through  the  gum.  These 
changes  are  shown  at  fig.  4. 

AT  FIVE  YEARS,  the  mouth  is  complete  in  the  number  of  its 
teeth;  and  from  this  date  it  becomes  necessary  to  study  their 
aspect  in  both  jaws.  Fig.  5  shows  the  upper  teeth  at  this  age,  by 
comparing  which  with  fig.  4  the  slight  growth  in  the  half-year 


FlG.  5. — UPPKR  NIPPERS  AND   TUSHES  AT  FIVE  YEARS  OLl>. 


1.  1.  Central   nippers,   with    the    mark 

still  unohliterated. 

2.  2.  Next  nippers,  with  the  mark  still 

plainer. 


3.  3.  Corner  nippers,  with    the  edges  very 

slightly  worn. 

4.  4.  Tushes,  well  developed,  and  still  show- 

ing the  groove  on  the  outside  plainly. 


may  be  traced.  In  the  lower  teeth  of  the  same  mouth,  the  edges 
of  the  central  cavities  are  much  more  worn  away,  the  central 
nipper  having  only  a  small  black  speck  in  the  middle  of  a  smooth 
surface,  while  the  next  is  much  worn,  and  the  corner  teeth,  though 
showing  the  mark  very  plainly,  bear  evidence  of  having  been  used. 
The  tush  is  much  grown,  with  its  outer  surface  regularly  convex, 
aud  its  inner  concave,  the  edges  being  sharp  and  well  defined.  The 


THE  HORSE. 


PIG.  6. — LOWER  NIPPERS   AM)  TUSHES   AT  FIVE  TEARS  OLD. 


1.  1.  Central  nippers,  with  their  marks 

almost  entirely  worn  out. 

2.  2.  Next  nippers,  showing  marks  par- 

tially worn. 


3.  3.  Corner  nippers,  with  the  mark  plainly 

seen,  but  the  edges  partially  worn. 

4.  4.  Tushes,  with  the  grooves  inside  almost 

obliterated. 


sixth  molar  is  at  its  full  growth,  and  the  third  is  shed  to  make 
room  for  the  permanent  tooth  in  its  place.  These  two  last-named 
teeth  should  always  be  examined  in  cases  where  there  is  any  doubt 
about  the  age.  After  five  years,  no  further  shedding  occurs  in 
any  of  the  teeth. 


FlG.  7. — THE  LOWER  NIPPERS  AM)  TUSIIEd  OF  A  HX-YEAR-OU)  HORSE. 

mark  plainly  enough,  but  with  the 
edges  of  the  cavity  considerably 
worn. 

4.  4.  The  tushes,  standing  up  three-quarters 
of  an   inch,  with  their  points  only 


with    the 


B.  The  lower  jaw. 

1.  1.  The    central    nippers 

marks  worn  out. 

2.  2.  Tim  next  nippers,  with  the  marks 

disappearing. 

3.  3.  The  corner  nippers,  showing   the 


slightly  blunted. 


THE  TEETH.  263 

THE  SIX-YEAR-OLD  MOUTH  is  the  last  upon  which  any  great 
reliance  can  be  placed,  if  it  is  desired  to  ascertain  the  age  of  the 
horse  to  a  nicety;  but  by  attentively  studying  both  jaws,  a  near 
approximation  to  the  truth  may  be  arrived  at.  It  is  ascertained 
that  the  nippers  of  the  upper  jaw  take  about  two  years  longer  to 
wear  out  than  those  of  the  lower ;  so  that  until  the  horse  is  eight 
years  old,  his  age  may  be  ascertained  by  referring  to  them,  nearly 
as  well  as  by  the  lower  nippers  at  six.  But  as  different  horses 
wear  out  their  teeth  with  varying  rapidity,  it  is  found  that  this 
test  cannot  be  implicitly  relied  on;  and  in  crib-biters  or  wind- 
suckers  the  upper  teeth  wear  out  wonderfully  soon.  Fig.  7  is 
taken  from  the  lower  jaw  of  a  six-year-old  horse,  showing  the  marks 
of  the  central  nippers  almost  obliterated,  but  still  presenting  con- 
centric circles,  of  discolored  brown  tartar  in  the  middle ;  next  to 
which  is  the  cement,  then  the  enamel,  and  the  dentine,  with  a  thin 
layer  of  enamel  outside.  Up  to  this  age,  the  nippers  stand  nearly 
perpendicular  to  each  other,  the  two  sets  presenting  a  slight  con- 
vexity when  viewed  together,  as  seen  in  figure  on  p.  254.  After- 
wards the  nippers  gradually  extend  themselves  in  a  straight  line 
from  each  jaw,  and,  in  the  very  old  horse,  form  an  acute  angle 
between  them. 


FlO.  8. — UPPER   NIPPKR8.  IN   THE   EIGHT-TEAR-OLD  HORSE. 

A.  Anterior  maxillary  bone.  3.    3.    Corner    nippers,   showing   the   marh 

1.  1.  Central  nippers,  worn  to  a  plane  plainly  enough. 

surface.  4.    4.    Tushes,  more  worn  down    than    in 

2.  2.  Next  pair,  still   showing  a  slight  the  lower  jaw  of  the  six-year-old 

remnant  of  the  cavity.  mouth. 

AT  ABOUT  THE  EIGHTH  YEAR,  the  upper  nippers  present  the 


264  THE  HORSE. 

same  appearance  as  already  described  in  the  lower  nippers  at  six 
years  old.  Both  tushes  are  considerably  worn  away  at  their  points, 
and  the  upper  ones  more  so  than  the  lower. 

AT  NINE  YEARS  OF  AGE  the  upper  middle  nippers  are  worn 
down  completely.  The  next  pair  have  a  slight  mark  left,  but 
their  surfaces  are  quite  level,  and  the  corner  nippers  have  only  a 
black  stain,  without  any  central  depression. 


FlG.  9. — LOWER  NIPPERS   AND  LEFT  TUSH   OF  A  VERT  OLD   HORSE,  THE  RIGHT  HAVING 
FALLEN  ODT. 

AFTER  NINE  YEARS  the  age  of  the  horse  can  only  be  guessed 
at  from  his  teeth,  which  gradually  grow  in  length,  and  are  more 
in  a  line  with  the  jaw.  The  section  of  each  nipper  presented  to 
the  eye  becomes  more  and  more  triangular  instead  of  being  oval, 
as  seen  in  figs.  7  and  8 ;  but  after  about  the  twelfth  year  the 
triangular  section  disappears,  and  the  tooth  becomes  nearly  round. 
In  accordance  with  the  increase  of  length  is  the  color  of  the 
tooth  altered,  being  of  a  dirty  yellow  in  very  old  horses,  with 
occasional  streaks  of  brown  and  black.  The  tushes  wear  down  to 
a  very  small  size,  and  very  often  one  or  both  drop  out. 

ALLUSION  HAS  ALREADY  BEEN  MADE  to  the  practice  of  re- 
moving the  milk  nippers  for  the  purpose  of  inducing  a  more  rapid 
growth  of  the  next  set,  which,'  however,  is  not  materially  affected 
by  the  operation  ;  but  dishonest  dealers  have  recourse  to  another 
deception,  called  bishoping,  by  which  an  aged  horse  may  be  passed 
off  upon  an  inexperienced  person  for  a  six-year  old.  The  plan 
adopted  is  to  cut  off  all  the  nippers  with  a  saw  to  the  proper  length, 
anJ  then  with  a  cutting  instrument  the  operator  scoops  out  an  oval 


THE  TEETH.  265 

cavity  in  the  corner  nippers,  which  is  afterwards  burnt  with  a  hot 
iron  until  it  is  quite  black.  It  is  extremely  easy  to  detect  the 
imposition  by  carefully  comparing  the  corner  nippers  with  the  next, 
when  it  will  be  seen  that  there  is  no  gradation  from  the  centre  to 
the  corner  nippers,  but  that  the  four  middle  ones  are  exactly  alike, 
while  the  corners  present  a  large  black  cat ity,  without  a  distinct 
white  edge  to  it,  the  dentine  being  generally  encroached  upon  with- 
out any  regularity  in  the  concentric  rings.  Moreover,  on  com- 
paring the  lower  with  the  upper  nippers,  unless  the  operator  has 
performed  on  the  latter  also,  they  will  be  found  to  be  considerably 
more  worn  than  the  lower,  the  reverse  of  which  ought  naturally  to 
be  the  case.  Occasionally  a  clever  operator  will  burn  all  the  teeth 
to  a  properly  regulated  depth,  and  then  a  practised  eye  alone  will 
detect  the  imposition.  In  the  present  day  there  is  not  so  great  a 
demand  for  six-year-old  horses  as  was  formerly  the  case,  and  pur- 
chasers are  contented  with  a  nine  or  ten-year-old  mouth  if  the  legs 
and  constitution  are  fresh.  Hence  bishoping  is  seldom  attempted 
excepting  with  horses  beyond  the  age  of  eleven  or  twelve;  and  the 
mere  use  of  the  burning-iron  without  cutting  off  the  teeth  will 
seldom  answer  the  purposes  of  the  "  coper."  Formerly  it  was  very 
common  to  see  mouths  with  the  corner  nippers  burnt  to  show  a 
"  good  mark,"  and  nothing  else  done  to  them;  but,  for  the  reasons 
given  above,  the  plan  is  now  almost  entirely  abandoned. 

IRREGULARITIES  in  the  growth  of  teeth  are  by  no  means  un- 
common in  the  horse,  often  caused  by  the  practice  of  punching 
out  the  milk  teeth  to  hasten  the  growth  of  the  permanent  set. 
Instead  of  having  this  effect,  however,  the  teeth  are  induced  to 
take  a  wrong  direction,  and  not  meeting  their  fellows  they  do  not 
wear  down  as  they  naturally  should.  In  punching  out  the  corner 
nipper  it  is  very  often  broken  off,  and  the  fang  is  allowed  to  remain 
in  the  socket.  The  consequence  is  that  the  picking  up  of  the  food 
does  not  hasten  the  removal  of  the  fang  of  the  milk  tooth,  and  in- 
stead of  accelerating  the  growth  of  the  permanent  tooth  in  the 
natural  position,  it  retards  it  and  sometimes  drives  it  to  seek  a 
passage  through  the  gums  behind  its  proper  socket.  Here,  not 
meeting  the  corresponding  nipper  of  the  upper  jaw,  it  grows  like 
a  tush,  and  has  sometimes  been  mistaken  for  a  second  tooth  of  that 
kind.  Some  horses  are  naturally  formed  with  "  pig  jaws" — that 
is  to  say,  with  the  upper  longer  than  the  lower — and  in  these  cases 
the  whole  set  of  teeth  grow  to  a  great  length,  and  interfere  with 
the  prehension  of  the  food. 


23 


266  THE  HORSE. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

OF   THE    JOINTS   AND    MUSCLE, THE    TISSUES    ENTERING   INTO 

THEIR    COMPOSITION. 

Joint* — Cartilage — Fibrous  Tissue — Physiology  of  Muscle. 
THE  JOINTS. 

THE  JOINTS  are  all  formed  between  two  or  more  separate  bones, 
having  a  soft  and  elastic  substance  interposed,  whose  structure 
varies  with  the  amount  of  motion.  Where  this  is  extensive,  as  in 
the  joints  of  the  limbs,  the  adjacent  surfaces  are  covered  with  a 
peculiar  kind  of  cartilage  arranged  in  a  thin  and  very  smooth  layer 
upon  them.  In  addition  to  this  protection  against  friction  and 
vibration,  the  bones  are  firmly  bound  together  by  strong  bands  of 
white  fibrous  inelastic  tissue  under  the  general  name  of  ligaments, 
each  bundle  receiving  a  distinct  appellation.  In  those  situations 
where  the  motion  is  limited,  a  mixture  of  cartilage  and  fibrous 
tissue  is  inserted  between  the  ends  of  the  bones  and  attached  to 
both,  as  in  the  vertebrae,  ischio-pubic  syrnphysis,  &c. ;  while  in 
order  to  reduce  the  vibration  and  friction  in  certain  important 
joints  fibro-cartilages  are  introduced,  with  both  surfaces  free,  and 
in  contact  only  with  the  usual  layer  of  cartilage,  as  in  the  stifle  and 
jaw.  A  lubricating  fluid  (called  synovia)  is  required  to  reduce 
the  amount  of  friction  ;  and  to  produce  it,  as  well  as  to  keep  it 
within  proper  limits,  a  membrane  (synovial)  is  developed.  This 
is  attached  to  each  bone  in  a  peculiar  manner,  to  be  presently  de- 
scribed. Lastly,  an  elastic  fibrous  tissue  (yellow)  is  met  with  in 
certain  situations,  the  most  remarkable  being  the  great  ligament 
of  the  neck. 

CARTILAGE. 

TRUE  CARTILAGE  (which  is  familiarly  known  to  all  when  it  shows 
the  large  white  masses  in  a  breast  of  veal,  as  dressed  for  the  table) 
is  a  homogeneous,  white,  semi-transparent  substance,  possessing  a 
certain  amount  of  elasticity,  and  easily  cut  with  a  knife.  In  the 
early  embryo  it  exists  as  the  sole  foundation  of  the  skeleton,  bone 
being  afterwards  deposited  in  its  meshes  and  finally  substituted  for 
it.  This  is  called  temporary  cartilage.  In  after  life  it  invests 
those  parts  of  the  bones  which  enter  into  the  composition  of  the 
joints  (articular  cartilage,  which  is  what  we  are  considering  just 
now),  and  also  forms  the  costal  cartilages,  the  ensiform  and  carini- 
form  cartilages,  and  those  of  the  larynx,  trachea,  and  nose.  Re- 
ticular  or  membraniform  cartilage,  differing  slightly  from  true 
cartilage,  is  met  with  in  the  Eustachian  tube,  the  external  ear, 
and  the  epiglottis. 


CARTILAGE.  267 

STRUCTURE. — On  putting  a  slice  of  true  cartilage  -inder  the  mi- 
croscope,  it  is  seen  to  consist  of  a  number  of  minute  cells  disseminated 
through  a  vitreous  substance.  The  cells  are  oval,  oblong,  or  poly- 
hedral in  shape,  and  more  or  less  flattened  by  packing.  The  mem- 
brane forming  the  cell- wall  is  usually  blended  with  the  matrix,  but 
sometimes  consists  of  concentric  layers.  White  fibres  usually  en- 
close the  mass  of  cells,  and  even  dip  sometimes  into  those  cells 
more  superficially  placed.  The  cells  or  corpuscles  are  contained  in 
hollow  cavities,  called  lacunae.  Sometimes  they  do  not  entirely  fill 
up  the  lacunae,  so  that  a  vacant  space  is  left.  The  corpuscles  are 
usually  dispersed  in  groups,  varying  in  size  and  form,  through  the 
matrix ;  the  groups  towards  the  surface  of  the  cartilage  are  gene- 
rally flattened  conformably  with  the  surface.  In  articular  car- 
tilage, the  matrix  in  a  thin  section  appears  dim  and  presents  a 
granular  aspect,  the  cells  and  nuclei  of  which  are  small.  The  pa- 
rent-cells enclose  two  or  three  younger  cells.  The  groups  they 
form  are  flattened  near  the  surface,  and  lie  parallel  with  it.  In  the 
internal  part  of  this  cartilage  the  cells  assume  a  linear  direction, 
and  point  towards  the  surface.  Near  its  attached  surface  cartilage 
blends  with  the  bone,  the  cells  arid  nuclei  of  which  become  sur- 
rounded by  little  granular  bodies,  which  seem  to  be  the  rudimen- 
tary deposit  of  bone.  In  costal  cartilage  the  cells  are  very  large ; 
they  contain  two  or  more  nuclei,  which  are  clear  and  transparent, 
and  some  contain  a  few  oil  globules.  The  cells,  internally  situated, 
form  oblong  groups,  disposed  in  lines  radiating  to  the  circum- 
ference. We  observe  a  great  quantity  of  intercellular  tissue,  in 
the  form  of  white  fibrous  structure,  the  fibres  of  which  are  parallel 
and  straight. 

PERICHONDRIUM  (re/rt,  around,  and  %<»dpoq,  cartilage},  is  a 
white  fibrous  substance,  which  covers  the  external  surface  of  all 
cartilages,  except  those  of  the  joints.  In  this  membrane  the  blood- 
vessels which  supply  the  cartilage  with  blood,  ramify.  It  is  analo- 
gous to  the  periosteum  which  covers  the  external  surface  of  bones. 

NERVES. — No  nerves  have  been  traced  into  any  of  the  car- 
tilages ;  they  are  destitute  of  sensation  while  free  from  inflam- 
mation. 

BLOOD-VESSELS. — Cartilage  is  non-vascular;  it  receives  its  nou- 
rishment from  the  bone  and  perichondrium  by  imbibition.  The 
law  of  endosmose  coming  into  operation  when  the  tissue  is  thick, 
as  in  the  costal  cartilages,  canals  are  formed  through  which  the 
vessels  pass  to  supply  the  parts  which  are  too  far  removed  from 
the  perichondrium.  In  articular  cartilages  no  vessels  enter.  When 
cartilage  is  removed  by  mechanical  means,  or  by  absorption,  it  is 
not  regenerated,  and  when  fractured,  as  in  the  ribs,  there  is  no 
reunion  by  cartilage,  but  by  fibrous,  or  most  frequently  by  osseous 
deposition. 


268  THE  HORSE. 

CHEMICAL  COMPOSITION. — True  cartilage  contains  three-fifths 
of  its  weight  of  water.  It  is  ascertained  that  the  cells  and  the  in- 
termediate substance  are  composed  of  different  materials.  The 
membranes  of  the  cartilage  cells  are  not  resolved  by  boiling,  and 
offer  a  lengthened  resistance  to  alkalies  and  acids.  The  contents 
of  the  cells  coagulate  in  water  and  dilute  acids,  and  are  dissolved 
by  alkalies.  The  intermediate  substance  consists  of  chondrin, 
which  differs  from  gelatine  in  not  being  precipitated  by  the  mine- 
ral acids. 

FIBROUS  TISSUE. 

FIBROUS  TISSUE  exists  very  generally  throughout  the  body, 
being  composed  of  fibres  of  extreme  minuteness.  It  is  found 
under  three  forms,  as  white  fibrous  tissue,  yellow  fibrous  tissue,  and 
red  fibrous  tissue. 

WHITE  FIBROUS  TISSUE  is  composed  of  cylindrical  fibres  of  ex- 
ceeding minuteness,  transparent  and  undulating.  They  are  col- 
lected first  into  small  fasciculi  and  then  into  larger  bundles,  which, 
according  to  their  arrangement,  compose  thin  layers  or  membranes, 
ligamentous  bands  or  tendons.  The  membraneous  form  is  seen  in 
the  periosteum  and  perichondriuin,  the  fasciae  covering  various 
organs,  the  membrane  of  the  brain,  &c. — Ligaments  are  glistening 
and  inelastic  bands  composed  of  fasciculi  of  fibrous  tissue  generally 
ranged  side  by  side,  sometimes  interwoven  with  each  other.  These 
fasciculi  are  held  together  by  separate  fibres,  or  by  areolar  tissue. 
They  are  of  all  forms,  from  the  round  band  to  the  expanded  mem- 
brane known  as  a  capsular  ligament. —  Tendons  are  constructed 
like  ligaments,  but  usually  in  larger  and  more  rounded  bundles. 
Sometimes  they  are  spread  out  in  the  form  of  aponeuroses. 

YELLOW  FIBROUS  TISSUE  is  also  known  as  elastic  tissue,  from  its 
most  prominent  physical  characteristic,  in  which  it  differs  from 
white  fibrous  tissue.  It  is  so  elastic  that  it  may  be  drawn  out  to 
double  its  natural  length,  without  losing  its  power  of  returning  to 
its  original  dimensions.  Its  fibres  are  transparent,  brittle,  flat  or 
polyhedral  in  shape,  colorless  when  single,  but  yellowish  when  ag- 
gregated in  masses.  When  this  tissue  is  cut  or  torn,  the  fibres 
become  curved  at  their  extremities  in  a  peculiar  manner.  It  is 
met  with  in  the  ligamenta  subflava  of  the  vertebrae,  the  liga- 
mentum  colli,  the  chordae  vocales,  and  membranes  of  the  larynx  and 
trachea,  and  the  middle  coat  of  the  arteries. 

RED  FIBROUS  TISSUE,  also  called  contractile  tissue  from  its  pos- 
sessing the  power  of  contracting  under  certain  stimulants,  is  inter- 
mediate between  yellow  fibrous  tissue  and  muscular  fibre.  Its 
fibres  are  cylindrical,  transparent,  of  a  reddish  color,  and  collected 
in  bundles.  It  has  no  connection  with  the  joints,  but  is  met  with 
in  the  iris,  around  certain  excretory  ducts,  and  in  tl.e  coats  of  the 
veins. 


FIBROUS  TISSUE— PHYSIOLOGY  OF  MUSCLE.  269 

Chemical  Composition. — The  flexibility  of  fibrous  tissue  is  owing 
to  the  presence  of  water  in  it,  of  which  it  contains  about  two-thirds 
of  its  weight.  A  tendon  or  ligament  will  readily  dry  and  become 
brittle.  Acetic  acid  causes  it  to  swell  up,  and  here  the  acid  dis- 
cloe  es  the  existence  of  nuclei  and  elastic  fibres.  It  is  chiefly  com- 
posed of  gelatine,  which  is  extracted  by  boiling. 

Blood-vessels. — White  fibrous  tissue  contains  few  blood-vessels. 
They  usually  follow  the  course  of  the"fasciculi ;  in  ligaments  they 
run  in  a  longitudinal  direction,  sending  off  communicating  branches 
across  the  fasciculi,  and  eventually  forming  an  open  network. 
The  periosteum  is  much  more  vascular,  but  the  vessels  do  not 
strictly  belong  to  the  membrane,  as  the  ramifications  found  in  it 
are  chiefly  intended  for  supplying  blood  to  the  bone  which  it 
covers. 

Nerves. — Small  tendons  contain  no  nerves,  and  large  ones  only 
small  filaments.  In  the  periosteum,  nerves  are  abundant  j  they 
exist  there  chiefly  for  supplying  the  bones  with  sensibility.  The 
pain  caused  in  rheumatism,  which  is  an  intensely  painful  disease, 
is  a  proof  of  the  sensibility  of  white  fibrous  tissue. 

PHYSIOLOGY  OF  MUSCLE. 

WITH  trifling  exceptions  the  whole  of  the  movements  of  the 
body  and  limbs  are  performed  by  the  agency  of  that  peculiar  sub- 
stance, known  in  our  butchers'  shops  as  "  flesh/'  and  recognised 
by  anatomists  as  muscular  tissue.  This  constitutes  the  chief  bulk 
of  the  soft  parts  external  to  the  three  great  cavities  (the  cranial, 
thoracic,  and  abdominal),  and  in  the  half-starved  subject  of  the 
knacker  or  highly-trained  race-horse,  in  which  the  fat  has  almost 
entirely  disappeared,  the  ordinary  observer  will  detect  nothing 
but  muscles  (with  their  tendons)  and  bones  beneath  the  skin 
covering  the  limbs.  On  the  trunk  they  are  spread  out  into  layers 
varying  in  thickness,  sometimes  interrupted  by  flat  tendons,  so  as 
to  form,  at  the  same  time,  a  protection  to  the  organs  within,  easily 
capable  of  extension  or  contraction,  and  a  means  of  moving  the 
several  parts  upon  each  other. 

TENDONS  resemble  ligamenti  in  being  composed  of  white  fibrous 
tissue,  described  at  page  268.  They  serve  to  connect  muscle  with 
bone,  and  are  useful  as  affording  an  agent  for  this  purpose  of  much 
less  compass  than  muscle  itself,  and  also  of  a  structure  not  so  easily 
injured  by  external  violence.  Thus  they  are  generally  met  with 
around  the  joints,  the  muscular  substance  chiefly  occupying  the 
space  between  them.  There  are  three  varieties  of  tendon — 1. 
Funicular,  consisting  of  cord-like  bands  ;  2.  Fascicular,  including 
bands  of  a  flatter  and  more  expanded  nature;  and  3.  Aponeurotic, 
which  are  membraj  ous,  and  are  chiefly  met  with  around  the  ab- 
domen. The  fibres  are  firmly  attached  to  the  bones,  which  gener- 
23* 


270  THE  H    RSE. 

ally  present  rough  surfaces  for  this  purpose,  and  are  also  closely 
incorporated  with  the  periosteum.  This  union  is  so  strong,  that 
it  very  rarely  gives  way;  and  when  extreme  violence  is  used, 
either  the  bone  itself  breaks,  or  the  tendon  snaps  in  its  middle. 
Tendons  are  non-elastic. 

To  THE  NAKED  EYE,  an  ordinary  muscle  appears  to  be  com- 
posed of  a  number  of  small  bundles  of  fibres,  arranged  in  parallel 
lines,  and  connected  by  a  fine  membrane.  These  bundles  may 
still  further  be  separated  into  what  seem  at  first  to  be  elementary 
fibres ;  but  when  placed  in  the  microscope,  they  are  found  to  be 
themselves  made  up  of  finer  fibres  united  into  fasciculi  by  delicate 
filaments.  These  ultimate  fibrillae  are  polyhedral  in  section,  ac- 
cording to  the  observations  of  Mr.  Bowman,  so  as  to  pack  closely 
together,  and  are  variable  in  size  in  different  classes  and  genera  of 
animals.  They  also  differ  in  appearance,  one  class  presenting 
stripes  while  the  other  is  without  them.  The  former  includes  all 
the  muscles  whose  movements  are  under  the  control  of  the  will  as 
well  as  those  of  the  heart,  and  some  of  the  fibres  of  the  oesophagus, 
while  the  latter  is  composed  of  the  muscles  investing  the  stomach, 
intestines,  bladder,  &c.,  which  are  comprehended  under  the  gene- 
ral term  involuntary. 

THE  SARCOLEMMA  is  the  name  given  by  Mr.  Bowman  to  the 
areolar  tissue  investing  each  fibre,  sometimes  also  called  myolemma. 
It  is  very  delicate  and  transparent,  but  tough  and  elastic;  in 
general  it  has  no  appearance  of  any  specific  structure,  but  some- 
times it  presents  an  aspect  as  if  there  was  an  interweaving  of  fila- 
ments 

WHEN  A  FIBRILLA  of  striated  muscle  is  examined  under  the 
microso  pe  of  a  high  magnifying  power,  it  is  seen  to  present  a 
bear3  .  appearance  as  if  made  up  of  a  linear  aggregation  of  dis- 
t:  ,  cells,  alternately  light  and  dark  When  the  fibrilla  is 

axed,   each   cell   is   longer  than  it  is    broad ;  but,  during  the 

\\*g^  ^  'he  muscle,  it  assumes  the  opposite  dimensions,  the  increase 

rtii&'ftf  ;A~r  being  always  in  r.-oportion  to  tb     diminution  of 

tl  the  contraction  takes  ^lace~M$  -^^uustance  becomes 

uier  than  before,  but  the  brlk  ..mains  the  same,  the  mass 
merely  gaining  in  thickness  wha  it  has  lost  in  length.  The 
application  of  certain  stimulating  nf  ents  will  produce  the  contraction 
for  a  certain  period  aftev  life  i.s  destroyed,  varying  according  to 
the  vitality  of  the  aiiim  il  <  ;  •  .mented  upon  and  the  nature  cf  the 
indiv'  :  %1  mup  Tlrs  called  irritability  in  the  striated 

as-iSv  whic1  *bit  pow  ful  contractions,  alternating  with  re- 
'xi'  -w  in  the  Involuntary  muscles  a  more  steady,  per- 
mit L>  lerate  contraction  is  met  with,  to  which  the  name 
of  tr  ;>t^  as  e^i  '  -i. 

PURE     'U^ui.iR        IRE  appears  to  be  identical  in  composition 


PHYSIOLOGY  OF  MUSCLE.  271 

with  the  fibrine  of  the  blood,  being  made  up  of  about  seventy- 
seven  parts  water,  fifteen  and  a  half  parts  fibrine,  and  seven  and  a 
half  parts  of  fixed  salts.  The  whole  of  the  flesh  of  the  body  is 
largely  supplied  with  blood,  and  it  is  found  by  experiment,  on  the 
one  hand,  that  if  this  is  cut  off  contraction  ceases  very  speedily 
after;  and  on  the  other,  that  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  mus- 
cular action  will  be  the  demand  for  fresh  supplies  of  blood.  None 
of  the  striated  muscles,  except  of  the  heart  and  the  muscles  of 
respiration,  can  go  on  acting  without  intervals  of  rest,  during 
which,  repairs  in  their  structure  are  effected.  If,  therefore,  the 
voluntary  muscles  are  to  be  brought  into  the  highest  state  of  vigor 
and  development  of  size,  they  must  be  regularly  exercised  and 
rested  at  proper  intervals.  During  the  former  condition  blood  is 
attracted  to  them,  and  at  the  same  time  that  fluid  itself  is  ren- 
dered more  fit  for  the  purposes  of  nutrition ;  while,  during  the 
latter  period,  the  increased  flow  of  blood  continuing  allows  for  a 
complete  reparation  of  the  tissues.  Thus  we  find  the  muscles  of 
the  well-trained  racehorse  full  and  firm  to  the  touch  ;  but  if  suffi- 
cient intervals  of  rest  are  not  allowed  between  his  gallops,  they 
will  present  a  very  different  feel,  being  flabby  and  wasted,  and  in- 
dicating that  he  has  been  "  overmarked." 

THE  VOLUNTARY  muscles  assume  various  shapes,  according  to 
their  positions  and  offices.  Sometimes  they  are  merely  long  strips 
of  muscular  tissue,  with  a  very  short  tendon  at  each  end,  as  in  the 
levator  humeri,  and  are  then  called  fusiform.  At  others  their 
fibres  radiate  as  in  the  latissimus  dorsi,  which  is  thence  called  a 
radiating  muscle.  A  third  set  are  called  penniform.  from  their 
fibres  being  attached  to  one  side  of  a  tendon,  or  bipenniform,  when 
they  are  fixed  to  both  sides  like  the  full  tail  or  wing  feather  of  a 
bird.  A  muscle  with  two  masses  of  its  tissue  connected  {^the 
middle  i>y  a  tendon  is  called  digastric.^  tout* 

IN  DESCRIBING  EACH  MUSCLE,  it  is  usual  to  speak  of  it  as  havi 
an  origin  from  one  bone,-  or  set  of  'bones,  and  an  inse^r* 
another,  the  fr  -.mer  term  beii}^  -generally  assigned •' 
fixed  division  oi  ti          o.  r.{TJiis  is,  however,  mere  <• 

of  Convenience,  c.nd  is  entirt*i\  jaybitrary. 

BURS^E  MUCOSJE,  which  are  jshut  sacs,  varying  in  size  from  that 
of  a  pea  to  a  moderate  pear, -god  Itiied  .with  synovial  membrane, 
are  placed  on  all  the  prominent  paints  >of-»bone  over  which  tendons 
glide.  Thus  there  is  a  large  onuv  hejipoi'at,of  the  hock,  and 
another  on  the  elbow,  both  of  v  c^hlison  .  '  ^s  inflam?)  and 
become  filled  with  synovia,  constituting  th*?  . -r-tes  ,kh  j*  > 
capped  hock  arid  elbow.  A  third  situation  ii,  ?Kt  — v.ji^e  ti 
sesamoid  bones,  where  the  swelling  from  inflnmm;,  <s  he 

name  of  windgall.     Where,  as  in  the  Ifl:      .  h<^ 
glide  to  a  great  extent,  they  are  invested  TO... 


272 


THE  HORSE. 


which  are  bound  down  by  white  fibrous  tissue  at  the  points  where 
the  strain  is  the  greatest.  In  the  LIMBS  the  muscles  are  bound  up 
into  masses  by  strong  but  thin  layers  of  intercrossed  white  fibrous 
tissue,  which  receives  the  name  of  FASCIA.  In  the  horse  this  is 
very  firmly  attached  to  the  surface  of  the  muscles  beneath,  and 
greatly  interferes  with  the  clean  dissection  of  them. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
THE    THORAX. 

Contents  of  the   Thorax — The  Blood — General  Plan  of  the 
Circulation — The  Feins — Physiology  oj  Respiration. 

CONTENTS  OF  THE  THORAX. 

THE  THORAX,  OR  CHEST,  is  that  cavity  formed  by  the  bodies  of 
the  dorsal  vertebraB  superiorly;  by  the  ribs  and  their  cartilages 
with  the  connecting  muscles  laterally;  by  the  sternum  inferiorly; 
by  the  diaphragm  posteriorly,  and  by  the  inner  margins  of  the  first 

ribs  and  body  of  the  first  dorsal 
vertebra  anteriorly.  It  contains 
the  central  parts  of  the  import- 
ant organs  of  circulation  and 
respiration,  and  gives  passage  to 
the  oesophagus,  as  it  connects 
the  pharynx  with  the  stomach. 
As  these  lie  within  it,  they  are 
allowed  to  play  freely  in  per- 
forming their  functions,  by  being 
enveloped  by  smooth  serous  mem- 
branes, called  the  pleura  and  the 
pericardium,  the  latter  being 
also  protected  by  a  fibrous  layer. 
A  section  of  the  thorax,  as  shown 
in  the  plan,  fig  10  will  give  some 
idea  of  the  relative  situation  of 
these  organs  and  their  invest- 
ments, as  well  as  of  the  shape  of 
the  cavity  itself  in  this  direction. 
The  heart  is  shown  at  A,  lying 
between  the  two  bags  of  the 
pleura,  in  the  space  called  the 
mediastinum.  The  lungs  are  shown  at  B  B,  covered  by  a  fine 
serous  membrane  (H  H),  pleura  pulmonalis,  except  at  their  roots, 


1 10. 10.— SECTIONAL  PLAN  OF  THORAX  AND  ITS 
CONTENTS   (THROUGHOUT  ITS  GIRTH-PLACE). 

A.  Heart. 

B.  B.  Lungs. 

C.  E.  D.  F.  Walls  of  the  thorax. 
G.  G.  Pleura  costalis. 

II.  II.  Pleura  pulmonalis. 


THE  THORAX— THE  BLOOD.  273 

where  the  air-tubes  and  blood-vessels  pass  into  their  substance. 
This  portion  of  the  pleura  is  continuous  with  the  serous  membrane 
lining  the  ribs  (G  G,  pleura  costalis),  which  thus  allows  them  to 
expand  and  contract  freely,  by  allowing  one  surface  to  glide  against 
the  other.  Thus,  the  pleura  on  each  side  covering  the  lungs,  and 
reflected  thence  to  the  inside  of  the  ribs,  and  the  thoracic  side  of 
the  diaphragm,  forms  a  shut  sac  or  bag,  which  in  the  natural  state 
contains  only  sufficient  serum  to  lubricate  its  walls ;  but  in  disease 
this  is  often  increased  to  an  enormous  extent,  ending  in  dropsy  of 
the  chest,  or  in  a  collection  of  pus  when  the  membrane  is  greatly 
inflamed. 

As  the  walls  of  the  thorax  expand  by  the  action  of  the  muscles 
which  move  the  ribs,  as  well  as  by  the  contraction  of  the  diaphragm, 
rendering  its  thoracic  surface  less  convex,  the  cavity  is  enlarged 
and  air  is  drawn  in  through  the  trachea,  constituting  the  act  of 
inspiration.  On  the  other  hand  the  contraction  of  the  walls,  and 
the  forcing  upwards  against  the  diaphragm  of  the  stomach  and 
liver,  by  the  action  of  the  abdominal  muscles,  reduces  the  size  of 
the  thorax,  forces  out  the  air,  and  induces  expiration.  The  repe- 
tition of  these  two  actions  is  known  by  the  general  term  respiration. 

Before  proceeding  to  describe  the  heart  and  lungs,  it  will  be 
necessary  to  examine  the  blood,  for  transmitting  which  fluid  to  all 
parts  of  the  body  the  heart  and  its  vessels  are  formed;  while,  for 
its  proper  aeration,  the  lungs,  windpipe,  and  larynx,  are  intended 
by  nature. 

THE  BLOOD. 

THE  BLOOD,  supplied  from  the  food  by  the  digestive  process 
hereafter  to  be  described,  furnishes  all  the  tissues  of  the  body  with 
a  constantly  renewed  stream  of  the  materials  which  they  severally 
require,  whether  for  their  nutrition  or  for  the  functions  of  secre- 
tion and  excretion  performed  by  the  various  organs  devoted  to 
these  purposes.  It  is  necessary,  therefore,  that  this  fluid  should 
be  c  m posed  of  elementary  matters  capable  of  combining  to  form 
the  materials  required,  or  of  those  substances  ready  prepared. 
Thus,  the  muscles  demand  for  their  proper  action  fibrine  and  oxy- 
gen, both  of  which  are  largely  combined  in  arterial  blood,  while 
the  nervous  system  cannot  respond  to  the  calls  of  its  grand  centre 
without  having  a  due  supply  of  fatty  matter,  also,  in  combination 
with  the  oxygen  obtained  by  respiration,  which,  however,  is  not 
only  intended  to  afford  this  gas,  but  also  to  remove  the  carbon 
that  would  otherwise  accumulate  to  a  prejudicial  extent.  For 
these  several  purposes  the  blood  must  be  supplied  with  liquid  ele- 
ments by  absorption  from  the  digestive  organs,  and  with  its  oxy- 
gen, by  imbibition  through  the  delicate  membrane  lining  the  lungs 
on  which  it  is  spread  as  it  passes  through  the  system  of  blood- 

s 


274  THE  HORSE. 

vessels  specially  set  apart  for  that  purpose.  When  it  is  considered 
that  the  stomach,  bowels,  liver,  pancreas,  and  spleen,  are  all  occu- 
pied almost  solely  in  supplying  the  fluid  with  its  grosser  materials, 
and  that  the  heart,  lungs,  kidneys,  and  skin,  are  constantly  engaged 
in  circulating  it,  supplying  it  with  oxygen,  and  purifying  it  from 
noxious  salts  and  gases,  its  importance  in  the  animal  economy  may 
be  estimated  as  it  deserves. 

As  IT  CIRCULATES  in,  or  immediately  after  it  is  drawn  from,  its 
appropriate  vessels,  the  blood  consists  of  an  opaque,  thickish  fluid, 
composed  of  water,  fibrine,  albumen,  and  various  salts,  and  called 
Liquor  sanguinis,  colored  red,  by  having  suspended  in  it  a  quan- 
tity of  corpuscles  of  a  peculiar  nature,  some  being  without  any 
color.  When  drawn  from  an  artery  or  vein,  and  allowed  to  remain 
at  rest  for  a  few  minutes,  a  coagulation  takes  place,  by  which  the 
blood  is  separated  into  the  clot  (coagulum)  arid  the  serum.  The 
former  is  composed  of  fibrine,  having  entangled  in  its  meshes  the 
corpuscles;  and  the  latter  is  the  liquor  sanguinis,  without  its  fibrine. 
The  blood  corpuscles  of  the  horse  measure  about  the  five-hundredth 
part  of  a  line  in  diameter,  being  considerably  larger  than  those  of 
man,  whose  diameter  is  only  the  four-hundred-and-thirtieth  part 
of  a  line ;  those  of  the  ass  being  still  smaller,  though  only  slightly 
so.  As  in  all  of  the  mammalia  but  the  camels,  these  bodies  are 
circular  flattened  discs,  and  are  of  the  same  size  (nearly)  in  all 
animals  of  the  same  species,  whatever  may  be  the  age  or  sex.  Ac- 
cording to  Messrs.  Prevost  and  Dumas,  the  blood  of  the  horse  con- 
tains less  solid  matter  than  that  of  man,  in  the  proportion  of  9.20 
to  12.92  in  1000  parts.  The  temperature  is  also  lower  by  about 
two  degrees  of  the  centigrade  thermometer,  the  pulse  slower  in  the 
proportion  of  56  to  72,  and  the  respirations  16  per  minute  against 
18  in  our  own  species.  The  shade  of  color  in  the  red  corpuscles 
depends  upon  the  proportion  of  carbonic  acid  and  oxygen  com- 
bined with  them.  If  the  former  preponderates,  a  deep  purple-red 
is  developed,  known  as  that  of  venous  blood ;  while  a  liberal  supply 
of  oxygen  develops  the  bright  scarlet  peculiar  to  arterial  blood. 
The  saline  matters  dissolved  in  the  liquor  sanguinis  consist  of  the 
chlorides  of  sodium  and  potassium  (which  comprise  more  than  one- 
half  of  the  whole  salts),  the  tribasic-phosphate  of  soda,  the  phos- 
phates of  magnesia  and  lime,  sulphate  of  soda,  and  a  little  of  the 
phosphate  and  oxyde  of  iron. 

GENERAL  PLAN  OF  THE  CIRCULATION. 

THE  BLOOD  is  CIRCULATED  through  the  body,  for  the  purposes 
of  nutrition  and  secretion,  by  means  of  one  forcing-pump,  and 
through  the  lungs,  for  its  proper  aeration,  by  another;  the  two 
being  united  to  form  the  heart.  This  organ  is  therefore  a  com- 
pound machine,  though  the  two  pumps  are  joined  together,  so  as 


GENERAL  PLAN  OF  THE  CIRCULATION. 


275 


to  appear  to  the  casual  observer  to  be  one  single  organ.  In  com- 
mon language,  the  heart  of  the  mammalia  is  said  to  have  two  sides, 
each  of  which  is  a  forcing-pump ;  but  the  blood,  before  it  passes 
from  one  side  to  the  other,  has  to  circulate  through  one  or  other 
of  the  sets  of  vessels  found  in  the  general  organs  of  the  body,  and 
in  the  lungs,  as  the  case  may 
be.  This  is  shown  at  fig.  11, 
where  the  blood,  commencing 
with  the  capillaries  on  the  gene- 
ral surface  at  (A),  passes  through 
the  veins  which  finally  end  in 
the  vena  cava  (B),  and  enters 
the  right  auricle  (C).  From 
this  it  is  pumped  into  (D)  the 
right  ventricle,  which,  contract- 
ing in  its  turn,  forces  it  on  into 
the  pulmonary  artery  ( E ) ,  spread- 
ing out  upon  the  lining  mem- 
brane of  the  lungs,  to  form  the 
capillaries  of  that  organ  at  F, 
from  which  it  is  returned  to  the 
left  auricle  (Gr)  through  the  pul- 
monary veins.  From  the  left 
auricle  it  is  driven  on  to  the  left 
ventricle;  and  this,  by  its  power- 
ful contractions,  forces  the  blood 
through  the  aorta  (I),  and  the 
arteries  of  the  whole  body,  to 
the  capillaries  (A),  from  which 
the  description  commenced.  But 
though  this  organ  is  thus  made 
up  of  two  pumps,  yet  they  are 

united  into  one  organ,  and  the  two  auricles  and  two  ventricles 
each  contract  at  the  same  moment,  causing  only  a  double  sound  to 
be  heard,  instead  of  a  quadruple  one,  when  the  ear  is  applied  to 
the  chest.  In  the  diagram  it  will  be  seen  that  one-half  of  the 
cavities-  and  vessels  is  shaded,  indicating  that  it  contains  dark 
blood,  while  the  other  contains  blood  of  a  bright  red  color.  But 
though  we  commonly  call  the  one  venous,  and  the  other  arterial, 
the  distinction  only  applies  to  the  general  circulation ;  for  that  of 
the  lungs  is  exactly  the  reverse,  the  pulmonary  artery  (E)  contain- 
ing dark  blood,  and  the  pulmonary  veins  bringing  it  back  to  the 
heart  after  it  is  purified,  and  has  again  received  oxygen  sufficient 
to  develop  the  scarlet  color  again.  Between  the  auricles  and  ven- 
tricles, arid  again  at  the  openings  of  the  latter  cavities  into  their 
respective  arteries,  valves  of  a  form  peculiar  to  each  are  placed,  so 


FlG.  11. — PLAN  OF   THE   CIRCULATION. 

A.  Capillaries  on  the  general  surface. 
3.  Vena  cava 

C.  Uight  auricle. 

D.  Right  ventricle. 

E.  Pulmonary  artery. 

F.  Capillaries  of  the  lungs,  uniting  to  form 

the  pulmonary  veins,  which  enter 

G.  The  left  auricle. 
H.  The  left  ventricle. 

I.  The  aorta  posterior,  dividing  into  small- 
er arteries,  and  united  with  the  capil- 
laries at  A. 

J.  The  trunk  of  the  aorta  anterior. 


276  THE  HORSE. 

as  to  allow  of  the  free  passage  OD  wards  of  the  blood,  but  not  of  its 
return  by  regurgitation.  If  they  become  diseased,  the  action  of 
the  heart  is  impeded,  and  the  circulation  of  the  blood  is  more  or 
less  seriously  interfered  with.  So,  also,  if  the  muscular  fibres,  of 
which  the  walls  of  the  auricles  and  in  much  thicker  layers  of  the 
ventricles,  are  composed,  become  weak  by  want  of  proper  exercise, 
or  from  the  deposit  of  fat  in  their  interspaces,  a  corresponding  de- 
gree of  mischief  is  effected  in  the  passage  of  the  blood.  The  force 
with  which  the  left  ventricle  contracts  may  be  estimated  from  the 
fact,  that  if  a  pipe  is  inserted  in  the  carotid  artery  of  a  horse,  and 
held  perpendicularly)  the  blood  will  rise  in  it  to  a  height  of  ten 
feet  j  and  the  rapidity  of  his  circulation  is  such,  that  a  saline  sub- 
stance will  pass  from  the  veins  of  the  upper  part  of  the  body  to 
those  of  the  lower  in  little  more  than  twenty  seconds.  Now,  as 
this  transmission  can  only  take  place  through  the  current  that  re- 
turns to  the  heart,  and  passes  thence  through  the  lungs  and  back 
again,  afterwards  being  forced  into  the  lower  vessels  through  the 
aorta,  it  follows  that  every  particle  of  this  fluid  passes  completely 
through  the  whole  circulation  in  the  above  short  period  of  time. 

THE   VEINS. 

THE  VEINS  generally  correspond  with  the  arteries,  the  blood  of 
which  they  return  to  the  heart.  Thus,  there  is  a  large  vein  which 
conveys  all  the  blood  from  the  anterior  half  of  the  body  supplied 
by  the  anterior  aorta,  and  this  is  called  vena  cava  anterior.  In  a 
similar  manner  the  posterior  vena  cava  is  made  up  of  veins  which 
accompany  the  several  arteries  that  are  found  throughout  the  body, 
with  one  remarkable  exception  connected  with  the  secretion  of  bile. 

ALTHOUGH,  IN  GENERAL,  the  veins  and  arteries  correspond  in 
their  ramifications,  yet  there  is  a  large  class  of  superficial  veins 
which  are  not  accompanied  by  any  of  the  latter  vessels.  In  horses 
which  for  many  generations  have  been  accustomed  to  fast  work, 
these  superficial  veins  are  strongly  developed,  and  are  particularly 
plain  in  the  Arab  and  his  descendants.  As  a  consequence  of  this, 
and  of  the  fact  that  many  of  the  arteries  are  accompanied  by  two 
veins,  the  whole  number  of  veins  is  much  greater  than  that  of  the 
arteries,  and  the  internal  area  of  the  former  may  be  considered  to 
be  nearly  double  that  of  the  latter.  In  their  walls  the  veins  are 
much  thinner  than  the  arteries,  though,  like  them,  they  have  three 
coats,  the  serous  and  cellular  being  very  similar  in  structure,  but 
the  fibrous  is  very  much  thinner  and  devoid  of  muscular  fibres. 
A  feature  peculiar  to  the  veins  is  the  existence  of  valves,  which 
are  sometimes  single,  at  others  double,  and  occasionally  arranged 
in  threes  and  fours  around  the  interior  of  the  large  veins.  They 
vary  in  numbers,  and  are  altogether  absent  in  the  pulmonary  veins, 
in  the  venae  cavse,  and  the  vena  portae. 


BREATHING  277 

PHYSIOLOGY   OF   EESPIEATION. 

THE  ESSENCE  of  the  act  of  breathing  consists  in  the  absorption 
of  oxygen  from  the  air,  and  the  excretion  of  carbonic  acid  from 
the  blood  which  is  circulated  through  it.  In  a  state  of  rest  this 
interchange  must  go  on  with  regularity,  for  carbonic  acid  is  con- 
stantly developed  by  the  decay  of  the  tissues,  arising  from  the 
peculiar  necessities  of  the  muscular  and  nervous  tissues,  and  by 
the  conversion  of  the  carbon  of  the  food  which  appears  to  be 
required  for  the  development  of  heat.  But  when  the  muscles 
of  the  whole  body  are  called  into  play  with  unusual  rapidity  and 
force,  the  development  of  carbonic  acid  is  largely  augmented,  and 
thus,  not  only  is  there  a  necessity  for  extra  means  of  excreting 
the  carbonic  acid,  but  there  is  also  a  demand  for  more  oxygen  to 
unite  with  the  carbon,  which  is  the  result  of  the  disintegration 
of  the  muscular  fibres  employed.  Hence  the  acts  of  respiration 
are  more  complete  and  rapid  during  exercise  than  in  a  state  of 
rest,  and  while  much  more  carbonic  acid  is  given  off,  a  greater 
volume  of  oxygen  is  absorbed  from  the  air  which  is  inspired. 

IT  is  FOUND  BY  EXPERIMENT  that  if  venous  blood  is  exposed 
to  the  action  of  oxygen,  through  a  thin  membrane  such  as  blad- 
der, it  absorbs  a  portion  of  that  gas,  and  changes  its  color  from 
dark  red  to  a  bright  scarlet.  This  is  in  accordance  with  the  re- 
cognised laws  of  endosmose  and  exosmose ;  and  as  the  blood  cir- 
culates in  very  fine  streams  within  the  vessels  of  the  lungs,  whose 
walls  are  much  thinner  than  an  ordinary  bladder,  it  may  readily 
be  understood  that  it  is  placed  in  more  favorable  circumstances 
for  this  interchange  of  gases  than  when  tied  up  in  a  large  mass 
within  a  comparatively  thick  membrane.  On  examining  the 
structure  of  the  lungs,  they  are  found  to  be  made  up  of  a  pair 
of  cellular  sacs,  communicating  with  the  trachea,  which  admits 
air  into  them ;  and  these  sacs  are  furnished  with  a  fine  network 
of  capillary  vessels  distributed  on  their  walls,  and  on  those  of  the 
numerous  cellular  partitions  of  which  they  are  composed.  Thus 
the  blood,  as  it  enters  the  lungs  in  a  venous  state,  is  submitted 
under  very  favorable  circumstances  to  the  agency  of  atmospheric 
air ;  it  readily  absorbs  the  oxygen  while  it  gives  off  large  volumes 
of  carbonic  acid  gas,  the  result  of  the  combination  of  previously 
absorbed  oxygen  with  the  carbon  given  off  by  the  various  organs 
of  the  body  already  allunded  to. 

THE  EXACT  CHEMICAL  CHANGES  which  have  taken  place  in  the 
atmospheric  air  exhaled  from  the  lungs  and  in  the  blood  itself  are 
believed  to  be  as  follows:  1.  A  certain  portion  of  oxygen  has  dis- 
appeared from  the  air.  2.  It  has  received  a  considerable  volume 
of  carbonic  acid.  3.  It  has  absorbed  fresh  nitrogen.  4.  It  has 
parted  with  some  of  the  nitrogen  of  which  it  was  previously  made 
up.  The  last  two  changes  cannot  readily  be  demonstrated,  but  are 
24 


278  THE  HORSE. 

inferred  from  the  fact  that,  under  varying  conditions  of  the  body, 
the  nitrogen  in  the  exhaled  air  may  be  either  above  or  below  the 
proper  proportional.  Besides  these,  the  air  also  receives  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  moisture,  and  some  organic  matters,  which 
in  certain  cases  are  largely  increased.  The  changes  in  the  blood 
are  not  so  fully  known  ;  but  it  is  now  the  general  opinion  of  phy- 
siologists that  the  formation  of  carbonic  acid  does  not  take  place 
in  the  lungs,  but  that  the  blood  arrives  there  surcharged  with  it 
already  made,  and  not  with  carbon,  as  was  formerly  believed.  The 
action  chiefly  consists  in  the  excretion  of  this  carbonic  acid,  and 
in  the  absorption  of  oxygen,  which  is  stored  up  for  the  several 
purposes  for  which  it  is  required  in  the  course  of  its  circulation 
through  the  body.  Magnus  demonstrated  by  experiment  that 
arterial  and  venous  blood  contain  very  different  quantities  of  car- 
bonic acid,  oxygen,  and  nitrogen  in  a  free  state,  for  on  obtaining, 
by  means  of  the  air-pump,  a  volume  of  the  gas  contained  in  each 
kind  of  blood,  and  analyzing  them,  he  found  them  to  be  made  up 
as  follows  : — 

Arterial.  Venous. 

Carbonic  acid 62-3  71-6 

Oxygen 23-2  153 

Nitrogen        14-5  13-1 

It  appears,  therefore,  that  in  passing  through  the  capillaries,  the 
gas  in  the  arterial  blood  loses  about  eight  per  cent,  of  oxygen,  and 
receives  about  nine  per  cent,  of  carbonic  acid,  which  action  is  re- 
versed as  it  passes  through  the  lungs. 


CHAPTEE    XVII. 
THE   ABDOMINAL   AND    PELVIC    VISCERA. 

The  Abdomen  and  its  Contents — Physiology  of  Digestion — Absorp- 
tion— Structure  of  Glands  and  Physiology  of  Secretion — Depu- 
ration and  its  Office  in  the  Animal  Economy — The  Stomach — 
The  Intestines — Liver — Spleen — Pancreas — Kidney — Pelvis — 
Bladder — Organs  of  Generation,  Male  and  Female. 

THE  ABDOMEN  AND  ITS  CONTENTS. 

LYING  IMMEDIATELY  BEHIND  THE  THORAX,  from  which  they 
are  separated  only  by  the  diaphragm,  are  the  important  organs  of 
digestion,  and  the  space  in  which  they  are  closely  packed  is  called 
the  abdomen.  This  part  is  capable  of  being  distended  downwards 
and  sideways  to  an  enormous  extent,  or  of  contracting  till  the  lower 


THE  ABDOMEN  AND  ITS  CONTENTS.  279 

walls  approach  very  closely  to  the  upper.  The  anterior  boundary, 
as  before  remarked,  is  the  diaphragm,  the  plane  of  which  moves 
considerably  in  active  respiration,  causing  the  flanks,  or  postero- 
lateral  walls  of  the  abdomen,  to  rise  and  fall,  in  a  corresponding 
manner,  and  thus  to  indicate  the  extent  of  distress  in  an  exhausted 
animal,  or  any  peculiarity  of  breathing,  as  in  "  broken  wind,"  or 
in  the  several  inflammatory  conditions  of  the  lungs.  Posteriorly, 
the  boundary  is  an  open  one,  being  the  anterior  boundary  of  the 
pelvis,  and  corresponding  with  the  brim  of  that  cavity.  Superiorly 
are  the  crura  of  the  diaphragm,  the  lumbar  vertebrae,  and  psoas 
and  iliacus  muscles ;  and  laterally,  as  well  as  inferiorly,  the  ab- 
dominal muscles,  and  cartilages  of  the  false  ribs.  Although  the 
abdominal  muscles  are  capable  of  great  dilatation,  yet  in  the 
natural  condition  they  maintain  a  gentle  curve  only  from  their 
pelvic  to  their  costal  attachments,  and  hence  the  depth  and  width 
of  the  back-ribs  and  pelvis  are  the  measure  of  the  ordinary 
capacity  of  the  abdomen.  Shallow  and  narrow  back-ribs  give  a 
small  abdominal  cavity,  and  generally  speaking,  a  correspondingly 
weak  condition  of  the  digestive  organs;  for  though  this  rule  is 
not  invariable,  yet  it  is  one  which  may  be  held  as  a  sufficient  guide 
for  practical  purposes.  Instances  do  occur  of  stout  and  hearty 
horses  possessed  of  contracted  middle  pieces,  but  they  are  so  rare 
as  to  be  merely  objects  of  curiosity.  The  small  space  which  is 
devoted  to  the  organs  of  digestion  in  the  horse  whose  back  ribs 
are  shallow  will  be  readily  understood  by  reference  to  the  annexed 
section,  in  which  the  enormous  mass  of  intestines  and  the  liver 
have  been  removed,  leaving  only  the  stomach  and  spleen.  When 
the  walls  of  the  abdomen  are  distended  laterally  and  downwards, 
as  they  always  are  in  horses  at  grass,  the  capacity  of  the  abdomen 
is  at  least  doubled. 

THE  CONTENTS  OF  THE  ABDOMEN  are  the  stomach,  the  liver, 
the  pancreas,  the  spleen,  the  small  and  large  intestines,  the  mesen- 
teric  glands  and  chyliferous  ducts,  and  the  kidneys,  together  with 
their  vessels  and  nerves.  Some  of  these  organs  are  fixed  close  to 
the  spine,  as  the  kidneys  and  pancreas ;  but  the  others  glide  upon 
each  other  as  they  are  alternately  empty  or  full,  and  to  facilitate 
this  motion  they  are  (like  the  lungs)  invested  with  a  serous  coat, 
the  peritoneum.  They  may  be  divided  into  the  hollow  organs, 
which  form  one  continuous  tube  (the  alimentary),  and  the  solid 
viscera,  which,  with  the  exception  of  the  spleen,  are  all  of  a 
glandular  structure,  though  differing  in  their  minute  anatomy. 
The  alimentary  canal  consists  throughout  of  three  distinct  layers : 
the  external  serous  coat  (peritoneal^,  the  middle  or  muscular  coat, 
and  the  internal  mucous  coat,  which  are  united  by  cellular  mem- 
brane, sometimes  regarded  as  forming  two  distinct  additional  coats. 


280  THE  HORSE. 

PHYSIOLOGY  OF  DIGESTION. 

BEFORE  PROCEEDING  TO  EXAMINE  into  the  anatomy  of  the  ab- 
dominal organs,  it  may  be  well  to  investigate  the  nature  of  the 
processes  which  are  carried  out  by  them.  To  do  this,  the  food  must 
be  traced  from  its  prehension  by  the  lips  and  teeth  to  its  expul- 
sion from  the  anus.  Thus,  commencing  with  the  mouth,  we  find 
it  there  ground  into  a  coarse  pulp,  and  mixed  with  the  saliva, 
which  acts  as  a  kind  of ferment  in  converting  the  starchy  matters, 
which  form  so  large  a  proportion  of  the  horse's  food,  into  sugar, 
and,  with  the  aid  of  the  gastric  juice,  into  the  proteine  compounds 
necessary  for  the  formation  of  flesh.  Perfect  mastication  and 
insalivation  are  therefore  highly  important  processes  to  healthy 
digestion.  When  it  reaches  the  stomach,  the  food  undergoes  still 
further  changes  by  the  agency  of  the  gastric  juice  and  of  mace- 
ration ;  but  this  organ  being  small  in  the  horse,  it  cannot  remain 
there  long  enough  to  be  converted  into  perfect  chyme  (the  result 
of  the  first  process  of  digestion),  but  is  passed  on  into  the  duo- 
denum for  that  purpose.  Here  it  is  further  elaborated,  and  re- 
ceives the  bile  and  pancreatic  juice,  which  are  poured  out  through 
their  ducts  opening  on  the  internal  surface  of  this  intestine.  The 
nutricious  parts  of  the  food  are  now  gradually  converted  into  chyle; 
and  as  it  passes  into  the  jejunum  and  ilium,  it  is  there  absorbed 
by  the  lymphatics  (here  called  lacteals),  whose  mouths  open  upon 
the  villi  thickly  lining  this  part  of  the  canal.  These  unite  into 
one  duct  (the  thoracic} ,  and  the  chyle  is  by  it  carried  into  the 
veins  through  an  opening  at  the  junction  of  the  left  vena  cava  an- 
terior, with  the  allary  vein.  From  the  small  intestines,  the  food, 
minus  its  nutritive  portions,  is  passed  on  into  the  large  intestines, 
and  finally  reaches  the  rectum  and  anus,  in  the  form  known  as 
faDces.  The  peculiar  offices  performed  by  the  bile  and  pancreatic 
fluid  will  be  described  under  the  sections  treating  of  each  of  those 
organs. 

THE  ABSORPTION  OF  FLUID  from  the  interior  of  the  alimentary 
canal  is  effected  in  two  different  modes — first,  by  the  lacteals,  which 
take  up  the  chyle  through  their  open  mouths ;  secondly,  by  the 
veins,  which  absorb  it  through  their  walls  by  the  process  known 
as  endosmose.  In  the  former  case  the  chyle  is  at  once  carried  to 
the  heart;  but  in  the  latter,  it  passes  through  the  liver,  and  be- 
comes purified  and  chemically  altered  in  that  organ.  The  lacteals 
pass  through  the  mesenteric  glands,  which  lie  between  the  layers 
of  the  mesentery. 

STRUCTURE  OF  GLANDS  AND  PHYSIOLOGY  OF 
SECRETION. 

A  GLAND  may  be  defined  to  be  an  organ  whose  office  it  is  to 
separate  from  the  blood  some  peculiar  substance,  which  is  poured 


THE  GLANDS— DEPURATION.  281 

out  through  an  excretory  duct,  whose  internal  surface  is  continu- 
ous with  the  mucous  membrane,  or  skin.  A  simple  gland  is,  in 
fact,  nothing  more  than  a  pouch  of  mucous  membrane ;  and  a  col- 
lection of  these  pouches  constitutes  a  compound  one,  which,  if  the 
groups  of  which  it  is  composed  are  loosely  bound  together  like 
grapes,  as  in  the  salivary  glands,  is  called  conglomerate  ;  while,  if 
they  are  united  into  a  solid  mass,  such  as  the  liver,  the  term  con- 
globate is  applied. 

BY  SECRETION  is  understood  the  process  of  separation  of  various 
matters  from  the  blood ;  the  term  being  also  applied  to  the  pro- 
ducts of  the  process,  such  as  saliva,  bile,  &c  ,  which  are  commonly 
known  as  secretions.  These  are  all  removed  from  the  blood  for 
one  or  two  purposes — first,  in  order  to  be  employed  for  some  ul- 
terior object  in  the  various  processes  going  on  in  the  body,  either 
for  its  own  preservation,  or  that  of  others  ;  or,  secondly,  as  being 
injurious  to  its  welfare,  and  therefore  to  be  discarded.  The  term 
secretion  is  sometimes  confined  to  the  former,  while  the  latter 
action  receives  the  distinguishing  term  excretion  :  but  as  in  many 
cases  the  fluid  which  is  removed  as  being  injurious  to  the  system 
is  also  used  for  beneficial  purposes  the  distinction  is  not  capable 
of  being  strictly  maintained.  The  nature  of  the  process  is  es- 
sentially the  same  in  all  cases,  being  carried  out  by  the  development 
of  simple  cells,  each  possessing  its  own  independent  vitality  These 
cells  select  certain  ingredients  from  the  blood,  and  then  set  them 
free  by  the  rupture  of  their  walls;  and  being  situated  on  the  free 
surface  of  the  lining  membrane  of  the  gland,  which  is  continuous 
with  the  mucous  membrane  or  skin,  the  secreted  fluid  gradually 
reaches  the  one  or  the  other.  It  is  impossible,  at  present,  to  ascer- 
tain the  precise  means  by  which  each  gland  is  made  up  of  cells 
having  special  powers  of  selection ;  but  that  the  fact  is  so,  is 
capable  of  demonstration.  Thus,  the  cells  of  the  liver  select  the 
elements  of  bile ;  those  of  the  salivary  glands,  saliva;  and  so  on. 
But,  as  we  shall  hereafter  find,  there  are  minute  points  of  differ- 
ence in  the  arrangement  of  these  cells  in  the  different  glands.  It 
is  now  ascertained  that  the  elements  of  the  various  secretions 
exist  in  the  blood ;  and  therefore  the  office  of  the  glands  is  con- 
fined to  the  selection  and  separation  of  their  products,  and  they 
have  little  or  nothing  to  do  with  their  conversion. 

DEPURATION,  AND  ITS  OFFICE  IN  THE  ANIMAL 
ECONOMY. 

THE  WHOLE  OF  THE  VARIOUS  SECRETIONS  which  go  on  in  the 
body  are  necessary  for  the  due  preservation  of  its  health  •  but  the 
most  important  of  the  class  alluded  to  above  as  excretions,  must  be  re- 
moved from  the  blood  or  death  will  speedily  ensue.  Thus,  if  saliva 
and  gastric  juice,  as  well  as  the  other  secretions  aiding;  digestion, 
24* 


282  THE  HORSE. 

are  not  mixed  with  the  food,  the  nutrition  of  the  body  will  be 
imperfectly  carried  on,  and  its  health  will  suffer.  But  if  the  ele- 
ment of  bile  and  urine  are  retained  in  the  blood,  not  only  is  the 
system  upset,  but  absolute  death  is  produced  in  severe  cases. 
Hence  it  follows,  that  attention  to  the  state  of  the  organs  of 
depuration,  or  excretion,  is  of  more  importance  even  to  those  of 
secretion,  using  these  terms  in  the  sense  explained  in  the  last  para- 
graph. The  chief  organs  of  depuration  are  the  lungs,  which  re- 
move carbon  from  the  blood  ;  the  liver,  which  secretes  the  bile  ; 
the  kidneys  which  get  rid  of  the  urea ;  and  the  skin,  which  relieves 
it  of  its  superfluous  watery  and  some  small  proportion  of  its  solid 
particles.  Experiment  shows  that  the  retention  of  carbon,  or  urea, 
in  the  blood  is  speedily  followed  by  death  ;  while  the  non-secretion 
of  bile,  if  entire,  poisons  the  system;  and  in  milder  cases,  its 
absence  from  the  alimentary  canal  interferes  with  the  due  elabora- 
tion of  the  chyle. 

THE  STOMACH. 

THE  STOMACH  is  situated  on  the  left  side  of  the  abdominal 
cavity,  immediately  behind  the  diaphragm.  It  resembles  in  shape 
the  bag  of  the  Scotch  bag-pipes,  having  two  openings,  two  curva- 
tures (a  lesser  and  a  greater),  two  surfaces,  and  two  sacs,  which 
are  generally  divided  by  a  constriction.  Its  volume  varies  with 
its  contents,  but  in  the  horse  of  average  size  it  will  not  contain 
more  than  three  gallons,  while  the  stomach  of  man,  whose  weight 
is  only  one-eighth  that  of  the  horse,  holds  three  quarts. 

THE  INTESTINES. 

THE  INTESTINES,  large  and  small,  constitute  a  hollow  tube, 
very  variable  in  diameter,  and  measuring  from  eighty  to  ninety  feet 
in  length  in  an  average-sized  horse.  They  extend  from  the  stomach 
to  the  anus ;  and  though  nature  has  only  divided  them  into  two 
portions,  the  small  and  large,  yet  anatomists  have  subdivided  each 
of  these  into  three  more,  namely,  duodenum,  jejunum,  and  ileum 
— co3cum,  colon,  and  rectum. 

THE  SMALL  INTESTINES  are  about  seventy  feet  long,  and  vary 
from  an  inch  to  an  inch  and  a  half  in  diameter,  except  at  their 
commencement,  where  there  is  a  considerable  dilatation,  forming 
a  sort  of  ventriculus  or  lesser  stomach.  They  are  gathered  up 
into  folds,  in  consequence  of  the  mesentery,  which  attaches  them 
to  the  superior  walls  of  the  abdomen,  being  of  very  limited  extent 
as  compared  with  their  length ;  and  thus  they  may  be  described 
as  presenting  two  curves,  a  lesser  mesenteric  curvature,  and  an 
outer  or  free  one  covered  by  the  peritoneum.  The  outer  layer  of 
the  muscular  coat  consists  only  of  a  few  and  scattered  fibres,  while 
the  inner  one  is  circular  in  its  arrangement,  and  though  thin  as 


INTESTINES— LIVER— SPLEEN.  283 

compared  with  the  stomach,  yet  it  is  easily  distinguished.  The 
mucous  coat  is  gathered  into  a  few  longitudinal  folds  when  empty, 
which  are  very  marked  at  its  commencement ;  but  there  are  no 
valvular  appendages  as  in  the  human  intestines.  It  is  everywhere 
studded  with  villi  or  little  projections,  like  the  pile  of  velvet, 
through  the  open  mouths  of  which  the  chyle  is  taken  up,  and  be- 
neath it  are  numerous  glands  named  after  their  discoverers. 

THE  LARGE  INTESTINES,  as  their  name  implies,  are  of  much 
greater  diameter  than  the  small ;  but  they  are  not  above  one-third 
of  their  length.  Instead  of  being  convoluted,  they  are  puckered 
into  pouches  by  a  peculiar  arrangement  of  the  longitudinal  mus- 
cular fibres,  which  are  collected  into  bundles  or  cords,  and  being 
shorter  than  the  intestine,  gather  it  up  into  cells.  The  mucous 
membrane  also  has  very  few  villi,  which  become  more  and  more 
rare  towards  the  rectum. 

THE  LIVER. 

THIS  IMPORTANT  ORGAN  is  in  close  contact  with  the  right  side 
of  the  diaphragm.  It  is  of  an  irregular  figure  thick  in  the  middle 
and  thin  at  the  edges ,  divided  into  three  lobes  \  convex  on  its  an- 
terior surface,  where  it  is  adapted  to  the  concave  aspect  of  the  dia- 
phragm ]  concave  posteriorly.  The  color  is  that  which  is  so  well 
known,  and  peculiar  to  itself.  It  is  everywhere  invested  by  the 
peritoneum,  excepting  the  spaces  occupied  by  the  large  veins  as 
they  enter  and  pass  out,  and  the  coronary  ligament  which  sus- 
pends it,  as  well  as  the  three  other  folds  of  peritoneum,  which 
have  also  received  particular  names. 

THE  FUNCTION  of  the  liver  is  doubtless  chiefly  of  a  depuratory 
nature,  but  the  soapy  nature  of  the  bile  seems  to  be  destined  to  aid 
in  dissolving  the  fatty  materials  which  are  contained  in  the  food, 
and  to  stimulate  the  intestines  to  perform  their  duties. 

THE  SPLEEN. 

THE  SPLEEN  can  scarcely  be  considered  as  a  gland,  inasmuch  as 
it  has  no  excretory  duct,  but  it  contains  within  its  substance  a 
number  of  little  bodies,  called  Malpighian  corpuscles,  which  most 
probably  perform  the  same  office  as  the  absorbent  glands.  Its 
weight  as  compared  with  the  whole  body  is  about  the  same  as  in 
man,  whose  spleen  weighs  six  ounces,  while  that  of  the  horse  rarely 
**xceeds  three  pounds.  It  is  attached  by  the  lesser  omentum  (a 
fold  of  the  peritoneum)  to  the  stomach,  and  occupies  the  left  side 
of  that  organ.  It  is  covered  by  a  serous  coat  continuous  with  the 
peritoneum,  and  its  internal  structure  is  spongy,  and  made  up  of 
cells  which  contain  a  large  quantity  of  blood. 

THE  FUNCTION  of  the  spleen  is  not  positively  ascertained,  but  it 
is  believed  to  perform  the  office  of  a  reservoir  for  the  blood  re- 
quired by  the  stomach,  with  which  it  is  closely  connected  by  a  set 


284  THE  HORSE. 

of  vessels  (vasa  brevia),  and  also  to  effect  some  change  in  the  blood 
itself. 

THE  PANCREAS. 

THE  PANCREAS  is  an  elongated  gland  resembling  in  structure 
the  salivary  glands,  placed  close  to  the  spine,  above  the  stomach. 
It  has  two  excretory  ducts,  which  carry  the  pancreatic  fluid  se- 
creted by  it  into  the  duodenum  through  a  valvular  opening  com- 
mon to  it  and  the  hepatic  duct.  THE  USE  of  the  pancreatic  fluid 
appears  to  be  similar  to  that  of  the  saliva. 

THE  KIDNEYS. 

THE  KIDNEYS  are  two  oval  organs  situated  beneath  the  psoas 
muscles,  and  only  retained  in  their  position  by  the  fatty  cellular 
membrane  which  envelops  them,  and  by  the  upward  pressure  of 
the  other  abdominal  viscera  below  them.  The  right  kidney  is 
completely  within  the  ribs,  but  the  left  scarcely  advances  at  all 
beyond  the  eighteenth  rib :  each  averages  about  forty  ounces  in 
weight,  but  there  is  a  considerable  variation  in  size  and  form. 
Unlike  the  corresponding  organ  in  the  cow,  the  horse's  kidney  is 
not  split  up  into  lobules,  though  there  is  some  little  irregularity  of 
outline  and  surface. 

THE  PELVIS. 

THE  CAVITY  OF  THE  BODY  known  as  the  pelvis  is  situated  be- 
hind the  abdomen,  with  which  it  communicates  freely,  each  being 
lined  by  a  continuation  of  the  peritoneum.  A  ridge  of  bone  (the 
brim  of  the  pelvis)  is  the  line  of  demarcation  anteriorly.  The 
sacrum  and  os  coceygis  bound  it  superiorly,  the  anus  posteriorly, 
and  the  ossa  innominata  inferiorly  and  laterally.  It  contains  the 
bladder  and  rectum  in  both  sexes,  and  in  each  the  organs  of  gene- 
ration peculiar  to  it. 

THE  BLADDER. 

THE  BLADDER  is  a  musculo-membranous  bag  destined  to  contain 
the  urine  as  it  is  gradually  received  from  the  ureters,  which  bring 
it  down  from  the  kidnpys.  It  lies  in  the  middle  of  the  pelvis, 
occupying  also  more  or  less  of  the  abdomen  according  to  its  con- 
dition in  point  of  repletion  or  emptiness.  It  is  of  an  oval  shape, 
with  its  posterior  extremity  somewhat  more  pointed  than  the  other, 
and  called  its  neck.  At  this  point  it  gives  origin  to  the  urethra, 
a  canal  for  carrying  off  the  urine.  It  receives  the  two  ureters  at 
its  superior  surface,  about  an  inch  in  front  of  the  neck,  where  they 
pierce  the  several  coats  in  an  oblique  direction  forming  a  complete 
valve  which  prevents  the  return  of  the  urine,  and  so  invisible  that 
the  presence  of  two  openings  is  scarcely  ever  suspected  by  the 
ordinary  observer.  Only  about  one-third  of  the  bladder  is  covered 
by  the  peritoneum,  the  remainder  being  made  up  solely  of  the 


ORGANS  OF  GENERATION.  285 

muscular  and  mucous  coats  which  compose  all  the  hollow  viscera. 
It  is  retained  in  its  place  by  the  cellular  membrane  which  connects 
it  with  the  lower  walls  of  the  pelvis,  posteriorly  by  the  urethrar 
and  by  the  folds  of  the  peritoneum  which  are  continued  from  it 
to  the  sides  of  the  pelvis,  and  are  called  the  broad  ligaments  of  the 
bladder. 

THE  ORGANS  OF  GENERATION,  MALE  AND  FEMALE. 

THE  MALE  ORGANS  OF  GENERATION  consist  of  the  testes  and 
their  ducts  the  vasa  deferentia,  the  latter  conveying  the  semen  to 
the  urethra  or  to  the  vesiculae  seminales,  which  are  oval  bags  con- 
nected with  the  upper  surface  of  the  neck  of  the  bladder.  Here 
the  seminal  fluid  is  stored  up  for  use,  and  when  wanted  is  conveyed 
into  the  vagina  by  means  of  the  external  organ  or  penis.  The 
anatomy  of  the  testicles  is  that  which  mainly  concerns  the  horse- 
master,  as  they  are  generally  removed  by  operation.  They  are 
contained  within  the  scrotum,  which  is  externally  composed  of 
skin  wrinkled  in  the  foal,  but  subsequently  distended  by  the  size 
and  weight  of  its  contents.  Beneath  this  is  a  layer  of  a  pale  yel- 
lowish fibrous  membrane  called  the  dartos,  which  envelops  the 
testes  and  forms  a  separation  between  them.  A  thin  coat  of  cellu- 
lar membrane  alone  separates  this  from  the  double  serous  mem- 
brane, the  tunica  vaginalis,  which  almost  entirely  envelops  each 
testis  just  as  the  pleura  does  the  lung.  In  the  early  stages  of  foetal 
life  the  testes  are  contained  within  the  abdomen  above  the  perito- 
neum, but  being  attached  to  the  scrotum  by  a  thin  muscle  (the 
cremaster)  they  are  gradually  dragged  downwards  through  the 
inguinal  canal  and  each  brings  a  double  layer  of  peritoneum,  which 
continues  its  connection  through  life,  so  that  fluid  injected  into 
the  cavity  of  the  tunica  vaginalis  will  flow  into  the  peritoneum. 
Hence  inguinal  hernia  in  the  horse  becomes  scrotal  in  a  very  short 
space  of  time,  and  rarely  remains  confined  to  the  former  position. 
The  testicles  with  their  appendages,  the  vesiculae  seminales,  form 
the  semen  by  the  usual  process  of  secretion.  They  are  of  about 
the  size  of  a  duck's  egg,  and  besides  their  attachment  by  the  re- 
flexions of  the  tunica  vaginalis  to  the  scrotum,  they  have  also  the 
spermatic  cord  which  suspends  them  to  the  inguinal  canal  through 
which  it  passes.  This  cord  it  is  which  is  divided  in  castration, 
and  it  is  well  to  ascertain  its  component  parts.  They  are,  1st. 
The  artery  which  supplies  the  testicles  with  blood,  and  is  of  con- 
siderable size  and  tortuous  in  its  course.  2d.  The  artery  of  the 
cord,  small  and  unimportant.  3d.  The  veins  which  accompany 
these  arteries.  4th.  The  nerves  and  absorbents,  the  division  of 
the  former  giving  great  pain  and  causing  a  slight  shock  to  the 
system.  5th.  The  vas  deferens  or  duct  carrying  the  semen  to  the 
urethra,  and  possessing  walls  of  such  thickness  that  it  feels  like 


286  THE  HORSE. 

whipcord  under  the  finger.  These  several  parts  are  connected 
together  by  cellular  membrane  and  covered  by  the  two  layers  of 
reflected  peritoneum,  namely,  the  tunica  vaginalis  and  tunica  vagi- 
nalis  reflexa,  by  the  thin  layer  of  cremaster  muscle,  as  well  as  by 
a  fourth  investment,  a  continuation  of  the  superficial  fascia  of  the 
abdomen.  All  these  parts  must  be  divided  before  the  canal  is 
reached,  for  operating  in  castration. 

THE  FEMALE  ORGANS  OF  GENERATION  are  essentially  the  ova 
ries,  the  uterus  and  its  appendages  forming  the  bed  in  which  the 
embryo  is  nurtured  to  maturity.  The  ovaries  are  two  small  oval 
bodies,  about  the  size  of  large  walnuts,  situated  behind  the  kid- 
neys, and  having  the  fimbriated  extremities  of  the  fallopian  tubes 
hanging  loosely  adjacent  to  them.  These  tubes,  one  on  each  side, 
terminate  in  the  uterus,  which  is  of  a  remarkable  shape  in  the 
mare.  It  consists  of  a  body  and  two  horns.  The  body  has  a 
mouth,  or  os,  which  opens  into  the  end  of  the  vagina,  while,  in 
itself,  it  is  oblong,  and  in  the  unimpregnated  state  it  is  entirely 
contained  within  the  pelvis.  Anteriorly  it  divides  into  two  horns 
(cornua),  which  diverge  towards  the  loins,  turning  upwards,  and 
lying  under  the  wings  of  the  ossa  ilii  (see  fig.  facing  p.  251).  They 
terminate  in  rounded  extremities.  Each  cornu  receives  the  fallo- 
pian tube  of  its  own  side,  the  opening  being  so  small  as  scarcely 
to  admit  a  silver  probe.  The  vagina  lies  between  the  bladder  and 
rectum,  and  is  about  eighteen  inches  in  length  ;  it  is  lined  with 
mucous  membrane,  and  surrounded  with  muscular  fibres,  which 
form  the  sphincter  vaginae. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 
THE    NERVES    AND    SPECIAL    ORGANS. 

The  Nerves —  The  Organ  of  Smell —  The  Eye —  The  Ear — 
The  Organ  of  Touch — The  Foot. 

THE  NERVES. 

THE  NERVOUS  SYSTEM  may  be  compared  to  the  fuel  that 
heats  the  water  of  the  steam-engine,  and  converts  that  apparently 
most  simple  and  innocent  fluid  into  the  powerful  agent  which  is 
capable  of  developing  almost  any  amount  of  force.  This  fuel, 
however,  is  itself  inactive  until  it  is  endowed  with  life  by  the 
agency  of  fire ;  and,  in  the  same  way,  the  nervous  system  of  the 
animal  being  must  be  provided  with  the  living  principle,  of  whose 
nature  we  can  only  judge  by  its  effects  when  present,  and  by  the 
cessation  of  all  action  when  absent.  There  are  many  processes 


NERVOUS  SYSTEM— NOSE— EYE.  287 

which  are  carried  on  in  the  animal  as  in  the  vegetable  without  the 
necessity  for  any  direct  stimulus  from  a  nervous  centre,  such  as 
the  growth  of  each  separate  tissue  throughout  the  body,  which 
takes  place  in  the  former,  just  as  it  does  in  the  latter,  by  a  species 
of  cell-development  and  metamorphosis  independent  of  nervous 
energy ;  but  though  this  growth  is  thus  accomplished,  yet  it  would 
soon  be  starved  out  for  want  of  pabulum,  were  it  not  for  the  supply 
of  food  to  the  stomach,  which  requires  the  mandate  of  the  nervous 
system  for  its  performance,  and  so  on  with  every  corresponding 
action  of  the  body. 

THE  NERVOUS  SYSTEM  is  made  up  of  two  distinct  substances, 
one  grey  in  color,  and  granular  in  structure,  which  is  the  seat  of 
all  nervous  power ;  the  other  white  and  fibrous,  which  is  the  tele- 
graph wire  by  which  this  power  is  communicated.  Sometimes  the 
grey  matter  envelops  the  white,  and  at  others  it  is  enclosed  within 
it,  but  in  every  case  each  has  its  peculiar  office,  as  above  men- 
tioned. Each  collection  of  grey  matter  is  called  a  ganglion,  what- 
ever its  shape  may  be ;  but  the  white  fibres  may  be  either  in  the 
form  of  commissures  for  connecting  the  ganglia  together,  or  they 
may  be  agents  for  communicating  with  other  organs,  and  are  then 
called  nerves. 

THE  OKGAN  OF  SMELL. 

THE  NOSE  of  the  horse,  like  all  the  solipedes,  is  endowed  with  a 
sensibility  far  greater  than  that  of  man  j  but  in  this  respect  he  is 
not  equal  to  many  other  animals,  such  as  the  dog  and  cat  kinds, 
and  the  sole  use  which  he  makes  of  this  sense  is  in  the  selection 
of  his  food. 

THE  EYE. 

THE  ORGAN  OF  SIGHT  may  be  considered  as  consisting  first  of 
all  of  an  optical  instrument  very  similar  to  the  camera  obscura, 
now  so  commonly  used  in  photography,  and  secondly  of  the  parts 
which  are  employed  to  move,  adjust,  and  protect  it  from  injury. 

THE  EYE  itself  consists  of  three  transparent  humors,  which 
answer  the  purpose  of  the  lens  of  the  camera,  by  collecting  the  rays 
of  light  upon  the  back  of  the  eye.  These  are  the  aqueous  in  front, 
the  crystalline  lens  in  the  middle,  and  the  vitreous  humor  behind. 
The  first  is  a  perfectly  transparent  and  limpid  fluid,  secreted  by 
the  lining  of  the  chamber  in  which  it  lies,  and  capable  of  being 
rapidly  renewed  in  case  of  a  puncture  letting  it  out.  The  lens,  on 
the  contrary,  has  the  consistence  of  very  hard  jelly,  and  is 
arranged  in  concentric  layers,  like  the  coats  of  an  onion.  It  is 
merely  a  double  convex  lens,  precisely  like  that  of  the  camera  in 
its  action,  and  is  the  chief  agent  in  producing  the  impression  of  an 
object  upon  the  sensitive  part  of  the  eye.  Behind  it  is  the  vitre 
ous  humor,  composed,  like  the  aqueous,  of  a  limpid  fluid,  but  in- 


288  THE  HORSE. 

stead  of  being  unconfined  except  by  the  walls  of  the  chamber  in 
which  it  lies,  it  is  bound  up  in  a  network  of  transparent  cells, 
which  give  it  the  consistency  and  appearance  of  a  delicate  jelly. 
Upon  the  perfect  transparency  and  proper  shape  of  these  humors 
depends  the  sight  of  the  animal ;  but  in  addition  to  the  risk  of 
blindness  from  any  defect  in  these  parts,  if  the  investing  coats  or 
membranes  are  inflamed  or  disorganized,  their  functions  are  not 
performed,  and  the  sight  is  either  impaired  or  destroyed.  Thus 
the  rays  of  light  may  be  fairly  collected,  so  as  to  throw  the  impres- 
sion of  every  object  within  the  sphera  of  vision  upon  the  back  of 
the  eye,  and  yet  the  horse  may  be  blind,  because  the  retina  or 
expansion  of  the  optic  nerve  is  disorganized  by  disease.  When 
inflammation  attacks  the  coats  of  the  eye,  it  generally  extends  to 
the  investments  of  the  humors,  and  to  the  substance  of  the  lens 
itself,  producing  cataract  or  opacity  of  that  part,  but  it  is  possible 
to  have  the  sight  impaired  from  a  mere  defect  of  shape  in  the 
anterior  coat,  so  as  to  make  the  surface  too  convex  and  thus  alter 
the  focus  of  the  sight.  This  is  the  "  buck-eye,"  which  leads  to 
shying,  and  is  perfectly  incurable.  The  membranes  are,  first,  the 
cornea,  a  perfectly  transparent  coat,  placed  in  front  of  the  eye,  and 
inserted,  like  a  watch  glass,  in  the  schlerotic  coat  covering  the 
posterior  four-fifths  of  the  globe.  The  latter  is  a  white  fibrous 
membrane,  strong  and  inelastic,  so  as  to  afford  protection  to  the 
parts  within  it  from  external  violence.  This  forms  the  white  of 
the  eye,  which,  however,  is  only  occasionally  visible  in  the  horse. 
Beneath  the  schlerotic  is  the  choroid  coat,  consisting  of  a  network 
of  blood  vessels,  and  lined  with  a  black  pigment,  which  again  has 
on  its  internal  surface,  at  the  part  opposite  the  pupil,  a  greenish- 
white  iridiscent  lining,  called  tapetum  lucidum,  or  luminous  carpet. 
Lastly,  within  the  whole  of  this  surface  is  spread  a  beautiful 
expansion  of  the  optic  nerve,  called  the  retina,  which  receives  the 
impressions  derived  from  the  rays  of  light,  forming  a  distinct  figure 
upon  it  exactly  similar  to  the  objects  which  are  presented  to  it, 
except  in  point  of  size,  and  in  being  inverted.  Beyond  these  parts, 
there  is  a  provision  made  for  moderating  the  rays  of  light  according 
to  their  intensity.  This  is  effected  by  means  of  an  opaque  septum, 
pierced  with  an  oval  hole — the  former  being  called  the  iris,  and 
the  latter  the  pupil.  The  substance  of  the  iris  itself  is  composed 
of  contractile  tissue,  which  has  the  power  of  expanding  or  contract- 
ing the  pupil  in  obedience  to  the  impression  produced  upon  the 
retina,  and  thus,  if  the  eye  is  examined  in  a  strong  light,  the  pupil 
will  appear  large  when  shaded  by  the  hand,  but  contracts  immedi- 
ately on  exposing  the  eye.  The  horse's  iris  is  brown,  varying 
somewhat  in  shade  in  different  individuals,  and  at  the  upper  part 
of  the  pupil  it  presents  one  or  two  little  floating  appendages,  which 
serve  to  moderate  the  sun's  rays.  Sometimes  the  brown  color  is 


THE  EYE— THE  EAR.  289 

absent,  and  the  iris  is  either  partially  or  entirely  white,  in  which 
case  it  is  called  a  "  wall  eye ;"  but  though  this  is  considered 
unsightly,  it  does  not  interfere  with  vision.  The  iris  is  stretched 
across  the  chamber  of  the  aqueous  humor,  and  is  thus  enabled  to 
act  freely.  There  are  many  other  delicate  structures  worthy  of 
being  examined,  but  want  of  space  must  prevent  any  further  allu- 
sion to  them. 

THE  APPENDAGES  of  the  eye  are  1st.  The  conjunctiva  or  mem- 
brane protecting  the  exposed  surface  of  the  eye.  2d.  The  eyelids. 
3d.  The  membrana  nictitan^  or  haw.  4th.  The  muscles  of  the 
eye.  5th.  The  lacrymal  apparatus.  The  conjunctiva  covers  the 
whole  front  of  the  eye,  being  thin,  and  perfectly  transparent  in  a 
healthy  state,  but  on  the  occurrence  of  inflammation  speedily  be- 
coming red  and  puffy.  It  is  reflected  from  this  face  to  the  inside 
of  the  eyelids,  and  the  whole  membrane  is  extremely  liable  to  in- 
flammation from  any  external  irritation.  The  eyelids  have  nothing 
very  remarkable  about  them,  being  merely  cartilaginous  shutters 
covered  with  fine  skin,  and  lined  with  conjunctiva,  and  raised  and 
lowered  by  muscles  peculiar  to  them*  The  membrana  nictitans  or 
haw  is  a  cartilage  lying  just  within  the  inner  corner  of  the  eye, 
but  capable  of  being  thrust  outwards  so  as  to  partially  cover  it 
when  the  muscles  retract  the  eye,  and  for  want  of  space  drive  it 
forward.  This  happens  whenever  the  eye  is  irritated  either  by 
an  insect,  or  by  the  dust  or  hayseeds  which  are  so  often  deposi- 
ted upon  the  conjunctiva,  and  which,  causing  the  eye  to  be  drawn 
back,  displace  the  fat  deposited  in  the  back  of  the  orbit,  and  this 
again  pushes  forward  the  haw.  For  this  reason,  in  all  irritable 
states  of  the  eye,  the  haw  is  prominent,  but  it  by  no  means  follows 
that  its  removal  will  diminish  the  irritation ;  on  the  contrary,  the 
usual  effect  is  to  increase  it,  and  the  operation  is  not  only  useless, 
but  injurious.  The  muscles  move  the  eye  in  all  directions,  and 
have  the  peculiar  property  of  keeping  the  long  diameter  of  the 
pupil  always  nearly  in  a  line  parallel  with  the  horizon.  Practi- 
cally they  are  not  of  any  great  importance.  The  lacrymal  appa- 
ratus consists  of  the  lacrymal  gland,  situated  beneath  the  outer 
wall  of  the  orbit,  and  secreting  the  tears,  which  are  intended  to 
wash  the  conjunctiva  clear  of  any  foreign  body.  The  secretion  is 
thrown  out  upon  its  surface  through  a  number  of  small  ducts,  and, 
traversing  from  the  outer  angle  to  the  inner,  is  conducted  through 
two  small  openings  in  the  lids  to  the  lacrymal  sac,  and  from  that 
by  the  nasal  duct  to  the  nose. 

THE  EAR. 

THIS  ORGAN  is  divided  into  the  external  ear  for  collecting  the 
waves  of  sound,  and  conveying  them  inwards,  and  the  internal  ear 
which  is  situated  within  the  petrous  part  of  the  temporal  bone. 
25  T 


290  THE  HORSE. 

The  latter  is  a  very  complicated  and  delicate  organ ;  but  its  forma- 
tion does  not  differ  in  any  essential  features  from  that  of  the  other 
vertebrate  animals,  nor  are  the  diseases  attacking  it  in  the  horse 
of  any  particular  importance,  so  that  its  description  will  be  omitted. 

THE  ORGAN  OF  TOUCH. 

THE  SENSE  OF  TOUCH  is  necessary  for  the  proper  appreciation 
of  the  mechanical  form  and  nature  of  the  objects  placed  in  appo- 
sition to  the  body,  and  of  their  temperature.  It  is  seated  gener- 
ally in  the  terminations  of  the  nerves-of  sensation  on  the  skin  ;  but 
there  are  certain  parts  specially  endowed  with  these  nerves,  which 
in  the  horse  are  the  lips  and  the  four  extremities. 

EVERY  PART  OF  THE  SKIN  is  sensible  to  impressions  from  ex- 
ternal objects,  but  the  sense  of  touch,  such  as  we  possess  in  the 
fingers,  can  only  be  said  to  reside  in  the  lips,  and  partially  in  the 
feet.  All  these  parts  are  profusely  supplied  with  nerves  of  sensa- 
tion, and  the  horse  may  often  be  observed  to  use  them  in  ex- 
amining external  objects,  especially  his  lips,  which  are  the  most 
delicate  of  his  organs  of  touch.  Mr.  Rarey  has  lately  drawn  special 
attention  to  this  subject;  but  it  has  long  been  known  to  those 
who  are  familiar  with  the  habits  of  the  horse.  The  feet  are  also 
largely  supplied  with  nerves,  though  not  to  the  same  extent  as  the 
human  fingers,  and  being  covered  with  horny  matter,  the  sensi- 
bility of  the  surface  is  greatly  reduced ;  still  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  the  horse  uses  them  occasionally  in  making  out  the  nature  of 
objects  presented  to  him,  and  this  is  especially  the  case  with  the 
fore  feet,  though  it  will  sometimes  happen  that  the  hind  extremi- 
ties are  used  for  the  same  purpose,  as  for  instance,  in  ascertaining 
the  nature  of  a  hard  body  before  kicking  at  it. 

THE  FOOT. 

IT  is  NECESSARY  TO  EXAMINE  the  structure  of  the  foot  most 
carefully,  not  as  an  object  of  curiosity  connected  with  the  sense  of 
touch,  but  on  account  of  the  numberless  diseases  and  accidents  to 
which  it  is  subject.  No  part  of  the  horse  is  so  liable  to  the  effects 
of  hard  work  and  mismanagement  as  this,  and  there  is  conse- 
quently none  which  more  requires  our  care  both  in  health  and 
disease. 

THE  PARTS,  entering  into  the  composition  of  the  foot,  will  be 
better  understood  by  a  reference  to  the  annexed  section  of  the 
phalanges  or  fingers  terminating  the  metacarpal  or  inetatarsal 
bones,  as  the  case  may  be,  with  their  investments.  It  will  be  seen 
that  there  is  very  little  space  between  the  pedal  bone  and  the 
crust,  which,  together  with  the  sole,  forms  a  horny  case  or 
natural  shoe,  for  the  sensible  and  delicate  investments  of  the 
b  )ne.  So  small  is  this  space,  that  when  inflammation  takes  place 


THE  FOOT. 


291 


PlO.  12 — SECTION  OF  THE  PARTS  ENTERING  INTO  THE  COMPOSITION  OP  THE  FOOT  AND  THB 
FETLOCK  AND  PASTERN  JOINTS. 


A.  Os  suffraginis. 

B.  Os  coronae. 

C.  Os  pedis. 

D.  Os  naviculare. 

K.  K.  The  perforans  and  perforatus  tendons. 
G.  Inferior  sesamoideal  ligament. 


H.  Cleft  of  frog. 

I.    Side  of  frog  cleft. 

J.    Sole. 

K.  Crust. 

L.  Coronary  substance. 


there  is  no  room  for  any  swelling  (the  invariable  accompaniment 
of  that  disease),  and  intense  pain  is  occasioned,  as  well  as  rapid 
disorganization  of  the  structure  itself.  The  horny  case  is 
attached  to  the  foot  by  a  delicate  membrane,  which  lies  in  folds 
upon*  the  pedal  bone,  and  it  can  be  torn  away  by  violence,  or  when 
putrefaction  has  commenced,  with  great  ease.  These  parts  are 
separately  displayed.  The  several  parts  which  we  shall  have  to 
examine,  commencing  from  without,  are — 1.  The  horny  case  or 
hoof;  2.  The  parts  which  secrete  it;  3.  The  arteries  which  supply 
it  with  blood ;  and  4.  The  pedal  bone  and  cartilages,  as  well  as 
the  navicular  bone,  which  it  encases. 

THE  HOOF  consists  of  three  distinct  parts,  which,  though  in  the 
recent  state  they  are  inseparably  united,  may  be  readily  separated 
after  maceration  for  a  few  days.  These  are  the  external  wall  or 
crust,  the  sole  or  slightly  concave  surface  forming  the  bottom  or 
floor  of  the  case,  and  the  triangular  central  portion  of  this  called 
the  frog.  'the  crust  reaches  from  the  edge  of  the  hairy  skin  to 
the  ground,  and  averages  about  three  inches  and  a  half  in  depth. 


292 


THE  HORSE. 


The  front  is  the  toe,  the  back  the  heel,  and  the  intermediate  part 
the  quarter  on  each  side.  It  is  said  by  Bracy  Clark  to  be  a 
segment  of  a  cylinder,  but  it  is  really  narrower  at  the  top  than  at 


FIG.  13. — THE  HOOF. 

A.  Outer  surface  of  crust. 

B.  Inner  surface  of  crust. 

C.  Upper  surface  of  sole. 

D.  Part  corresponding  with 

the  cleft  of  the  frog. 

E.  Coronary  band. 


FlG.    14. — FRONT  VIEW  OF   THE  FOOT,  WITH  THE 
HOOF  REMOVED. 

A.  Coronary  substance. 

B.  Laminae. 


the  bottom,  and  it  should  rather  be  described  as  a  section  of  a 
truncated  cone.  When  examined  from  the  side,  the  anterior  sur- 
face should  form  an  angle  of  about  forty-five  degrees  with  the  line 
of  the  sole,  and  the  upper  edge  or  coronary  band  should  join  the 
sole,  so  as  to  leave  a  moderate  substance  at  the  heel ;  for  if  too 
great  the  foot  does  not  expand,  and  is  liable  to  disease  from  that 
cause ;  or  if  too  thin  and  narrow,  the  foot  is  weak  and  gives  way 
downwards,  ending  in  a  convexity  of  the  sole  instead  of  the 
reverse.  The  front  of  the  crust  is  rather  more  than  half  an  inch 
in  thickness,  and  in  a  strong  foot  of  average  size  gradually 

diminishing  to  the  quarters,  at 
the  back  of  which  it  is  generally 
barely  a  quarter  of  an  inch 
thick,  especially  at  the  inner  of 
the  two.  This  proportion  is 
however  confined  to  the  fore 
foot,  for  in  the  hind  there  is 
little  difference  between  the  toe 
and  quarters  in  point  of  thick- 
ness. The  superior  border,  or 
coronary  band,  is  marked  by  its 
whitish  color.  On  its  external 

FIG.  15.— THE  UNDER  SURFACE  OF  IE*  FOOT.      surface    it   resembles  the   crust 
A.  Cleft  of  frog.  below  \  but  internally  it  differs 

c!  Sefttetween  heels.  •  in    being    smoothly   excavated, 


THE  FOOT.  293 

whilst  the  crust  exhibits  perpendicular  strise,  corresponding 
with  the  'laminae;  but  this  is  not  well  shown  in  Fig.  13.  In 
examining  the  cut  of  the  sole,  Fig.  15,  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
crust  is  bent  inwards  towards  the  frog  at  the  heel  on  each  side  ; 
there  are  the  bars,  which  in  the  natural  foot  appear  as  sharpened 
prominences,  extending  from  the  heels  into  the  centre  of  the  foot, 
between  the  sole  and  the  frog,  and  which  are  useful  as  buttresses, 
supporting  the  crust  from  being  crushed  inwards  by  the  superin- 
cumbent weight.  The  sole  is  the  plate  at  the  bottom  of  the  foot, 
which  should  be  slightly  concave  downwards,  and  is  fixed  to  the 
inner  edge  of  the  crust,  and  the  outer  sides  of  the  bars,  and  not  to 
their  lower  surfaces.  Its  usual  thickness  is  about  one-sixth  of  an 
inch,  but  it  will  vary  greatly  in  different  horses,  and  it  is  thicker 
where  it  runs  back  between  the  bars  and  the  crust.  It  is  secreted 
in  plates,  which  can  readily  be  separated  with  a  knife  in  that 
direction.  The  frog  is  the  prominent,  triangular,  and  elastic 
substance,  which  fills  up  the  space  between  the  heels  posteriorly, 
the  bars  on  each  side,  and  the  sole  in  front.  In  the  middle  is  a 
iongitudinal  fissure,  called  the  cleft,  the  sides  of  which  should 
form  an  angle  of  about  forty-five  degrees.  In  front  of  this  cleft, 
is  a  solid  wedge  of  the  elastic  horny  substance,  constituting  the 
frog,  which  lies  immediately  beneath  /  the  navicular  bone  and 
has  received  the  name  of  the  cushion.  Posteriorly  it  is  spread 
out  into  a  thin  band  on  each  side  which  covers  the  bulbs  of 
the  heels,  and  passes  round  the  upper  part  of  the  wall  constituting 
the  coronary  frog-band  of  Bracy  Clark,  which  is  continuous  with 
the  coronary  substance.  The  structure  of  the  horn  which  forms 
these  three  divisions,  varies  a  good  deal.  In  the  crust  it  is  fibrous, 
somewhat  resembling  whalebone  in  this  respect,  but  not  quite  so 
hard ;  these  bristly  fibres  are  united  by  a  gelatinous  substance,  but 
they  are  arranged  so  as  to  lie  in  straight  lines  descending  from  the 
coronary  circle  to  the  ground.  The  wall  may,  therefore,  be 
considered  as  composed  of  hairs  agglutinated  together,  and  each 
secreted  by  one  of  the  villi,  which  are  so  thickly  spread  over  the 
surface  of  the  coronary  circle.  The  sole  is  also  fibrous,  but  not 
nearly  so  much  so  as  the  wall ;  and  the  fibres  are  not  arranged  in 
so  parallel  a  manner,  taking  rather  an  oblique  direction  from 
behind  forwards,  and  being  more  easily  separated  into  scales. 
The  frog  differs  from  both,  in  possessing  finer  fibres  and  in  smaller 
quantity,  in  comparison  with  the  gelatine,  which  formation  renders 
it  more  soft  and  elastic  and  also  more  prone  to  decomposition. 
The  horny  matter  is  sometimes  colored  a  grayish  brown,  some- 
times white,  and  sometimes  marbled  by  a  mixture  of  the  two 
colors. 

THE  HOOF  is  developed  by  secretion,  which  has  its  seat  in  the 
coronary  substance  and  laminae.     It  consists  in  a  pouring  out  on 
25* 


294 


THE  HORSE. 


their  surface  of  a  plasma,  in  which  rounded  cells  develop  them- 
selves, in  correspondence  with  the  villi  from  which  the  secretion  is 
poured  out.  These  cells  are  arranged  in  layers,  corresponding 
with  the  secretory  surface.  In  the  crust  this  growth  takes  place 
from  the  superior  border  to  the  inferior,  but  in  the  sole  and  frog, 
from  the  internal  surface  to  the  external.  This  growth  is  constant 
through  the  life  of  the  animal,  and  it  would  give  the  hoof  an 
excessive  development  if  it  were  not  either  for  the  wear  of  the  soil 
in  the  unshod  horse,  or  of  the  action  of  the  smith's  knife  in  the 
shod  one ;  but  the  increase  of  the  wall  being  solely  from  above 
downwards,  it  does  not  require  any  reduction  on  its  external  sur- 
face. The  coronary  substance,  sometimes  called  the  coronary  liga- 
ment, is  a  fib ro- cartilaginous  band  intervening  between  the  skin  of 

the  leg  and  the  hoof,  covered 
with  cuticle  externally,  and  with 
villi,  which  form  a  secretory  sur- 
face on  the  edge  towards  the 
hoof.  It  is  most  liberally  sup- 
plied with  blood,  as  we  shall 
presently  see,  and  is  attached  to 
the  upper  part  of  the  coffin  bone 
and  extensor  tendon  by  cellular 
tissue.  It  gradually  becomes 
thinner  as  it  descends  upon  the 
pedal  bone,  and  ends  in  puckers 
or  folds,  which  are  continuous 
with  those  of  the  laminae,  and 
are  not  even  separable  from  them 
by  maceration.  The  laminse, 
thus  continuing  upon  the  pedal 
bone,  consist  of  about  five  hun- 
dred parallel  folds  or  plaits, 
plentifully  supplied  with  blood, 
and  forming  a  secretory  surface, 
which  aids  the  coronary  sub- 
stance to  form  the  horn.  They 
lie  upon  an  elastic  substratum 
of  fibrous  periosteum,  which  is 
of  great  service  in  taking  off  the 
jar  from  the  foot  in  its  batter- 
ing upon  hard  roads,  for  it  ap- 
pears that  the  weight  of  the 
body  is  suspended  from  these 
plates,  and  not  carried  upon  the 
sole.  The  laminae  are  continu- 
ous at  the  toe  with  the  sensiLlo 


FlO.  16.— VIEW  OF  VESSELS  OP  THE  FOOT,  IN- 
JECTED. 

1.  Plantar  vein. 

2.  Plantar  artery. 

3.  Branches  to  the  coronary  substance  and 

laminae. 

4.  Posterior  division  of  plantar  artery. 

5.  Perpendicular  branch. 

6.  Anastomosis  with  opposite  plantar  artery. 


THE  FOOT. 


295 


sole,  which  is  a  vascular  membrane  covering  the  floor  of  the 
pedal  bone,  and  secreting  the  horny  sole.  In  the  centre  of  the 
posterior  part  of  this  is  the  sensible  frog,  which  is  of  nearly  the 
same  shape  as  the  horny  frog,  and  is  still  more  liberally  supplied 
with  blood  than  the  sensible  sole. 
THE  ARTERIES  supplying 
these  vascular  structures  with 
blood,  and  the  veins  taking  it 
back,  are  of  great  importance, 
and  doubly  so  because  it  is  in 
these  vessels  that  an  operation  is 
often  performed  in  inflammation 
of  the  foot,  calculated  to  afford 
relief  by  a  local  abstraction  of 
blood.  Commencing  with  the 
large  metacarpal  artery,  which 
is  the  continuation  of  the  radial 
below  the  knee,  we  find  it  de- 
scending by  the  side  of  the 
tendo-perforatus  under  the  pos- 
terior-annular ligament.  Imme- 
diately above  tlje  fetlock  joint 
it  splits  into  three  branches ;  the 
middle  one  passing  to  the  deep 
parts  of  the  leg,  and  the  two 
others,  forming  the  plantar  arte- 
ries, descend  on  each  side  the 
postero- lateral  parts  of  the  cor- 
onary substance.  Here  they 
divide  into  two  leading  portions, 
the  anterior  running  round  to 
meet  its  fellow  of  the  opposite 
side,  and  giving  off  with  it  a 
complete  fringe  of  vessels,  which 
are  displayed  in  the  accompanying  representation  of  an  injected 
preparation  of  the  foot.  The  branches  uniting  in  front  of  the  foot 
and  encircling  the  coronary  ligament  are  called  the  superior  cor- 
onary circle.  The  posterior  division  of  the  plantar  artery  gives  off, 
opposite  the  pastern  joint,  the  artery  of  the  frog,  which  descends 
obliquely  inwards  through  the  substance  of  the  sensible  frog,  and 
divides  into  two  branches  within  it,  after  which  it  supplies  the  whole 
of  that  substance  with  numerous  vessels,  and  then  goes  on  to  the  sole, 
to  which  it  gives  off  a  number  of  radiating  branches.  After  giving 
off  the  artery  of  the  frog,  the  plantar  artery  ends  posteriorly  in  the 
lateral  laminal  branch  which  passes  through  the  foramen  in  the 
ala  of  the  os  pedis,  and  supplies  the  laminae  Thus  the  whole  of 


FlO.  17.— VIEW  OF  THE   ARTERIES   OF   THE  FROG 
AND  SOLE,  INJECTED. 

A.  Lower  porous  surface  of  pedal  bone. 

B.  Lateral  surface  of  pedal  bone. 

C.  C.  The  plantar  veins. 

D.  D.  The  plantar  arteries. 

E.  Lateral  cartilage  contracted  by  drying. 

F.  Veins  of  the  frog,  injected. 


296  THE  HORSE. 

these  structures  are  full  of  blood-vessels,  for  not  only  are  the 
arteries  above  described  ramifying  thus  extensively  upon  them, 
but  the  blood  is  returned  by  corresponding  veins. 

BESIDES  THE  PEDAL  AND  NAVICULAR  BONES,  there  are  also 
two  cartilaginous  plates  at  the  back  of  each  ala  of  the  pedal  bone, 
which  are  of  considerable  importance.  These  have  been  called  by 
the  late  Professor  Coleman  the  lateral  and  inferior  cartilages, 
whilst  others  have  given  them  the  name  of  the  true  and  false. 
The  lateral  cartilages  extend  backwards  and  outwards  from  the 
posterior  and  upper  borders  of  the  coffin  or  pedal  bone.  They  are 
united  in  front  with  the  expanded  terminations  of  the  extensor 
tendon,  and  by  cellular  membrane  with  the  lower  end  of  the  os 
coronae.  Posteriorly  they  wind  upwards  around  the  ala  of  the 
pedal  bone,  to  which  they  are  firmly  fixed,  forming  the  foundation 
for  the  heel.  But  in  addition  to  these  lateral  or  true  cartilages, 
there  are  also  two  others,  of  a  fibro-cartilaginous  nature,  which 
commence  from  the  sides  of  the  former  and  proceed  forwards 
towards  the  heels  of  the  pedal  bone,  and  spread  inwards  upon  the 
surface  of  the  tendo-perforans.  They  are  scarcely  worthy  of  being 
described  as  distinct  cartilages,  and  appear  more  like  ordinary 
condensed  cellular  membrane. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  foot  of  the  horse  is  a  most  compli- 
cated structure,  which  is  liable  to  derangement  whenever  the  hoof 
or  horny  case  is  interfered  with,  and  this  may  occur  either  from 
mismanagement  in  shoeing,  causing  mechanical  injury,  or  from 
inflammation  of  the  secreting  surface,  which  will  end  in  the  for- 
mation of  imperfect  horn,  or  from  punctures  or  other  wounds  of 
the  foot.  Perhaps  in  no  organ  does  an  injury  so  soon  produce  a 
return  at  compound  interest,  for  the  inevitable  first  result  is  a  mal- 
formation of  the  hoof,  and  this  again  only  adds  to  the  original 
mischief.  Hence  it  is  that  in  the  foot,  more  than  in  any  other 
pare  even,  prevention  is  better  than  cure,  for  in  many  of  its 
diseases  it  happens  that  a  cure  cannot  be  obtained  without  rest ; 
and  yet  it  is  also  the  fact  that  the  secretion  of  horn  will  not  go  on 
perfectly  without  the  stimulus  of  necessity  afforded  by  exercise. 
The  position  of  the  leg  is  such  that  its  veins  have  a  hard  task  to 
perform  at  all  times  in  returning  the  blood  from  the  feet,  but  when 
the  horse  is  not  exercised  at  all  they  become  doubly  sluggish,  and 
congestion  in  them  is  almost  sure  to  occur. 


IS  1  wli  ill  !  I 

sap  i|°*  Sli      £    5 

—  „,  K  S.     o  s  u  <i,      «> «_  5  c          t 


THE 

DISEASES  OF  THE  HORSE, 


AND 


THE   ACCIDENTS   TO  WHICH   HE   IS   LIABLE, 
WITH  THEIR  TREATMENT. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 
THE   DISEASES   AND   INJURIES   OF   BONE. 

General  Remarks — Splints — Ringbone  and  Sidebone — Ossification 
of  the  Lateral  Cartilages — Bone  Spavin — Exostosis  of  the  Hu~ 
merus  and  Scapula — Fistula  of  the  Withers — Poll  Evil — Caries 
of  the  Jaw — Osteo  Sarcoma — Fractures. 

GENERAL  REMARKS. 

THE  DISEASES  OF  BONE  are  not  commonly  attended  by  any  con- 
stitutional disturbance,  and  neither  require  an  examination  of 
general  symptoms,  nor  the  adoption  of  any  but  local  treatment, 
beyond  that  attention  to  the  health  which  is  always  necessary. 
They  may  all  be  included  under  the  heads  of, — 1st.  Exostosis,  or 
increased  growth  of  bone.  2d.  Caries,  or  ulceration.  3d.  Anchy- 
losis, or  unnatural  union  of  two  bones,  in  consequence  of  exostosis, 
or  caries,  or  both.  4th.  Fractures,  or  disunion  by  external  force. 
Malignant  diseases  of  the  bone  also  occur  very  rarely  in  the  horse, 
so  that  it  will  be  scarcely  necessary  to  occupy  any  space  with  their 
description,  especially  as  they  are  perfectly  incurable. 

EXOSTOSIS  is  the  result  of  increased  action  in  the  nutrition  of 
the  part,  and  is  much  more  prevalent  in  young  horses  than  in  old. 
Indeed,  after  six  or  seven  years  of  age  it  is  very  rarely  met  with, 
and  never  attacks  the  bones  at  that  age  for  the  first  time.  It  may 
be  recognised  by  a  hard  swelling  of  the  part,  which  in  recent  cases 
is  painful  on  pressure ;  but  sometimes  its  site  cannot  be  reachrd 
with  the  finger,  and  the  disease  can  then  only  be  detected  by  its 
effects.  A  blow  upon  any  of  the  bones,  when  unprotected  by  any- 
thing but  skin,  will  produce  inflammation  followed  by  exostosis  • 

(297) 


298  THE  HORSE. 

but  the  most  ordinary  cause  is  the  over-stimulus  of  hard  work. 
Heavy  horses  are  more  prone  to  exostosis  than  light  ones,  partly 
from  the  weight  of  their  bodies  and  their  high  lumbering  action 
jarring  their  limbs  in  a  greater  degree,  but  also  from  the  more 
spongy  and  open  texture  of  their  bones,  which  admit  of  the  pres- 
sure of  large  blood-vessels  within  them,  and  are  thus  more  liable 
to  congestion,  and  consequent  morbid  secretion.  Exostosis  is  shown 
in  the  form  of  splints,  ring  and  sidebone,  and  ossified  lateral  car 
tilages,  as  well  as  in  the  growths  which  occur  occasionally  in  other 
parts  of  the  body  which  have  received  no  distinguishing  name. 
The  vitality  of  the  new  growth  in  exostosis  is  less  than  that  or 
healthy  bone,  and  as  a  consequence,  when  excessive  inflammation  is 
set  up  in  the  part,  it  will  often  die  and  be  separated  by  absorption. 

CARIES  (ulceration)  occurs  as  a  consequence  of  inflammation,  and 
in  the  horse  either  results  from  external  injury,  as  in  poll  evil  and 
fistulous  withers,  or  from  mismanagement,  as  in  navicular  disease, 
which  latter  affection  will  be  considered  under  the  diseases  of  the 
foot.  It  is  always  attended  with  pain,  and  in  severe -cases  with  the 
formation  of  sufficient  matter  to  require  an  outlet,  but  in  very  re- 
stricted ulcerations,  such  as  occur  in  navicular  disease,  the  pus 
passes  into  the  joint,  and  is  reabsorbed  with  the  synovia. 

ANCHYLOSIS,  when  it  is  the  result  of  caries  in  the  two  adjacent 
surfaces  of  a  joint,  produces  union  between  them,  but  in  the  horse 
it  is  generally  of  a  secondary  kind,  the  result  of  bony  growths 
(exostosis),  thrown  out  from  the  surfaces  of  the  two  bones  near 
the  joint,  which  coalescing,  unite  into  one  mass,  and  thus  destroy 
all  motion. 

SPLINTS. 

THE  STRICT  DEFINITION  of  this  disease  is  "  an  exostosis  from 
the  lower  part  of  the  small  inetacarpal  bone,  connecting  it  by  bony 
union  with  the  large  inetacarpal  bone/'  but  among  horsemen,  any 
bony  growth  from  the  cannon  bone  is  considered  a  splint,  and  the 
latter  is  almost  as  common  as  the  former.  The  regular  splint  rarely 
attacks  the  outer  small  inetacarpal  bone  alone,  but  sometimes  in 
very  bad  cases  both  are  implicated  in  the  disease.  It  is  difficult 
to  give  a  valid  reason  for  this  greater  frequency  of  splint  on  the 
inside  than  on  the  out,  but  it  is  commonly  said  that  the  inner 
splint  bone  receives  more  of  the  weight  of  the  body  than  the  outer 
one,  and  that  it  is  more  under  the  centre  of  gravity,  but  as  it  is 
merely  suspended  from  the  carpus,  and  is  not  supported  from  below 
(in  any  way,  mediately  or  directly),  this  can  produce  no  injurious 
effect  upon  it.  The  fact  is  so,  however,  whatever  may  be  the  cause. 

The  symptoms  of  splint  are  generally  a  greater  or  less  degree  of 
lameness  during  its  formation,  but  sometimes  it  may  go  on  to  attain 
a  large  size  without  any  such  result,  especially  if  its  growth  is  slow, 


SPLINTS.  299 

and  the  horse  is  not  severely  worked.  It  is  commonly  remarked 
that  a  splint  is  of  no  consequence  unless  its  situation  is  such  as  to 
inteifere  with  the  back  sinews,  or  suspensory  ligament,  and  although 
it  is  quite  true,  as  has  been  asserted  by  learned  veterinarians,  that 
the  splint  is  far  removed  from  the  former,  and  seldom  interferes 
with  the  latter,  yet  it  is  almost  always  directly  connected  with  the 
attachments  of  the  sheath  of  the  tendon,  and  this  being  stretched 
every  time  the  leg  is  extended  will  occasion  the  pain  which  is  ex- 
pressed by  the  limp  in  the  action  The  size  of  the  morbid  growth 
has  no  relation  with  the  amount,  or  even  with  the  existence  of 
lameness,  for  a  very  small  splint  will  often  be  far  more  productive 
of  this  symptom  than  a  very  large  one.  In  examining  a  leg  it  is 
often  only  after  careful  manipulation  in  the  flexed  condition  that 
a  small  bony  tumor  (of  the  size  perhaps  only  of  a  garden  pea)  can 
be  detected,  but  when  once  the  finger  presses  upon  it,  the  horse 
will  almost  invariably  be  found  to  flinch,  and  usually  it  will  be 
thrown  out  just  where  the  sheath  of  the  tendon  is  attached.  Here 
there  is  no  union  between  the  small  and  large  metacarpal  bones, 
and  the  injury  is  confined  to  the  inflammation  produced  in  the 
sheath,  which  will  generally  go  off  after  proper  treatment  and  rest. 
These  small  bony  growths  are  not  very  uncommonly  met  with  in 
the  hind  legs,  but  they  are  not  recognised  there  as  splints.  No 
constitutional  symptoms  are  met  with  in  these  cases,  and  they  must 
be  ascertained  by  the  local  symptoms  alone.  Unless  the  splint  is 
in  the  way  of  the  action  of  the  other  foot,  and  the  skin  on  its  sur- 
face is  bruised  by  repeated  blows,  there  is  seldom  any  swelling  of 
the  soft  parts,  but  when  this  occurs,  the  skin  and  cellular  mem- 
brane become  puffed  and  hot,  and  extreme  lameness  is  the  result, 
temporarily  aggravated  by  every  blow. 

The  treatment  of  a  splint  will  depend  upon  the  state  in  which 
it  exists,  and  upon  the  purpose  to  which  the  horse  possessing  it  is 
destined.  If  no  lameness  exists,  and  the  blemish  is  not  objected 
to,  it  is  far  better  not  to  meddle  with  it,  for  in  the  course  of  a  few 
years  it  will  disappear  by  absorption  as  a  matter  of  course. 
Moreover  it  often  happens  that  in  attempting  to  remove  a  splint 
by  some  irritating  application,  extensive  inflammation  is  set  up  in 
the  fibrous  strictures  attached  to  it,  and  lameness,  which  was  not 
previously  in  existence,  is  thenceforth  a  most  troublesome  attend- 
ant. If,  however,  the  horse  is  for  sale,  in  which  case  the  exist- 
ence of  a  splint  would  be  regarded  with  suspicion,  or  if  lameness 
has  shown  itself,  it  will  be  necessary  to  adopt  measures  likely  to 
effect  the  absorption  of  the  morbid  growth,  and  these  are  chiefly 
two : — 1st,  Sub-cutaneous  scarification,  or  without,  a  seton,  or  the 
seton  alone ;  and  2d.  Counter-irritation  by  means  of  some  form  of 
blister.  If  the  soft  parts  covering  the  splint  are  much  inflamed, 
the  horse  should  have  his  corn  taken  away,  and  a  dose  of  physic 


300  THE  HORSE. 

given  him,  during  which  a  wet  bandage  should  be  kept  constantly 
applied,  and  indeed,  in  any  case  of  splint  severe  enough  to  require 
operation,  the  cooling  remedies  mentioned  above  should  be  adopted 
beforehand.  The  operation  is  performed  with  a  probe-pointed 
narrow  knife,  shaped  like  a  scimetar,  with  the  cutting  edge  on  the 
convex  side.  A  small  opening  is  made  in  the  skin  about  an  inch 
below  the  splint,  and  just  large  enough  to  admit  the  knife,  which 
is  then  introduced  and  pushed  upwards  with  its  flat  side  towards 
the  skin,  till  it  reaches  the  tumor,  when  the  convex  edge  is  turned 
towards  this,  and  several  extensive  scarifications  are  made  in  the 
periosteum  covering  it,  after  which  the  knife  is  withdrawn  and  a 
fine  seton-needle  is  introduced  in  its  place,  and  passed  upwards 
until  it  reaches  above  the  splint,  when  it  is  pushed  through,  and 
the  tape  drawn  out,  and  properly  secured  with  a  bandage.  Of 
course  the  horse  must  be  cast  and  properly  secured  before  resorting 
to  the  knife.  In  the  course  of  ten  days  or  a  fortnight,  the  tape 
may  be  withdrawn,  and  the  splint  will  almost  invariably  disappear. 
Sometimes  the  seton  is  tried  without  the  scarification,  but  it  is  not 
nearly  so  successful,  and  is  nearly  as  troublesome  an  operation.  In 
most  cases  both  of  these  operations  are  unnecessary,  and  the 
application  of  the  following  blister  (which  has  a  tendency  to 
produce  absorption,  independently  of  its  counter  irritative  powers) 
will  have  the  desired  effect. 

Take  of  Biniodide  of  Mercury     ....     1  drachm 

Lard 1  ounce.     Mix, 

and  after  cutting  the  hair  short,  rub  a  little  into  the  skin  covering 
the  splint,  every  night,  until  a  free  watery  discharge  is  produced 
from  the  surface.  To  facilitate  this  the  leg  should  be  fomented 
with  very  hot  water  every  morning  and  afternoon,  and  this  should 
be  continued  for  several  days  after  the  ointment  has  been  dis- 
continued. The  horse  will  not  gnaw  the  skin  after  this  applica- 
tion, and  it  is  a  very  useful  one  for  general  purposes,  when 
counter-irritation  is  required  to  produce  absorption.  If,  after  a 
week's  interval,  the  splint  does  not  appear  much  reduced  in  size, 
the  ointment  should  be  re-applied,  and  repeated  at  similar  inter- 
vals till  the  swelling  is  removed.  When  the  bony  growth  is  very 
extensive,  neither  scarification  nor  counter-irritation  will  be  of 
much  service,  and  the  leg  must  be  fired,  and  afterwards  repeatedly 
blistered,  but  even  with  the  best  and  most  energetic  treatment, 
the  part  will  seldom  become  sufficiently  sound  to  stand  anything 
but  slow  work. 

RINGBONE  AND  SIDEBONE. 

RINGBONE  AND  SIDEBONE  both  consist  in  the  throwing  out  of 
bony  matter  about  the  joints  of  the  os  eoronse ;  the  former  name 
being  given  to  the  disease  when  it  attacks  that  between  it  and 


RINGBONE— OSSIFICATION  OF  CARTILAGES.  301 

the  os  suffraginis,  and  the  latter  when  the  seat  is  the  parts  around 
its  union  with  the  os  pedis  or  coffin  bone.  Very  often  and  espe- 
cially in  heavy  cart  or  dray  horses,  ringbone  and  sidebo  le  co-exist 
in  the  same  leg,  where  the  three  bones  are  completely  anchylosed, 
and  in  which,  during  life,  the  only  action  was  in  the  fetlock  joint. 
The  disease  attacks  the  hind  leg  as  well  as  the  fore ;  but  it  is 
more  common  in  the  latter  than  in  the  former. 

The  symptoms  are  a  greater  or  less  enlargement  of  the  leg,  of  a 
hard  and  unyielding  nature,  either  immediately  above  the  coronet, 
as  in  sidebone,  or  a  little  higher,  as  in  ringbone.  In  the  latter 
case,  if  thoroughly  established,  it  surrounds  the  joint,  whence  the 
name  of  ringbone ;  but  in  the  early  stages  it  appears  at  certain 
points  from  which  it  spreads  all  round.  Sidebone  is  seldom  so 
extensive,  and  usually  attacks  the  postero-lateral  parts  of  the  os 
coronse,  where  the  swelling  is  defined,  and,  except  in  very  hairy- 
legged  or  gummy-heeled  horses,  can  easily  be  felt.  In  the  early 
stages  the  action  is  not  impeded,  but  there  is  more  or  less  soreness 
or  lameness.  After  much  bone  is  thrown  out,  the  joints  are  either 
completely  fixed  or  their  movements  are  extremely  limited. 

The  treatment  in  the  early  stage  is  precisely  similar  to  that  for 
splint;  but  the  operation  of  scarifying  the  periosteum  requires 
great  care  and  some  knowledge  of  the  anatomy  of  these  joints,  or 
the  knife  will  pierce  the  capsular  ligament,  and  increase  the  evil 
it  was  intended  to  relieve.  A  seton  without  the  scarification  will 
often  be  of  service,  and  for  sidebone,  firing  in  the  early  stage  will 
be  serviceable,  though  it  is  objectionable  on  account  of  the  blemish 
it  leaves  behind.  The  biniodide  of  mercury  ointment  already 
described  is  most  useful  in  slight  cases,  but  in  severe  ones  it  will 
rather  tend  to  aggravate  the  growth,  and  when  anchylosis  has 
taken  place,  nothing  but  time  and  patience  for  the  subsidence  of 
the  inflammation  will  avail.  When  this  has  taken  place,  and  the 
joint  is  fixed,  a  high-heeled  shoe  will  enable  the  horse  to  work, 
with  some  awkwardness  it  is  true,  and  the  addition  of  a  leather 
sole,  will  to  some  extent  take  off  the  jar,  which  occurs  in  a  greatly 
increased  ratio  when  the  elastic  action  of  the  pastern  joints  is 
destroyed. 

OSSIFICATION  OF  THE  LATERAL  CARTILAGES. 

THIS  is  COMMONLY  KNOWN  as  ossification  of  the  cartilages,  or 
false  ringbone,  no  other  cartilages  being  subject  to  ossification, 
and  these  being  therefore  known  par  excellence  as  the  cartilages. 
In  heavy  cart-horses  it  often  co- exists  with  ringbone  and  sidebone, 
especially  the  latter ;  but  it  also  attacks  well-bred  carriage-horses, 
and  high-actioned  hacks,  which  are  comparatively  free  from  those 
diseases. 

The  symptoms  are  more  or  less  enlargement  of  the  back  of  the 
2G 


302  THE  HORSE. 

coronet,  and  heel,  the  part  feeling  unnaturally  hard  and  irregu- 
lar or  lumpy.  If  recent,  there  is  generally  increased  heat  on 
careful  examination  with  the  hand ;  but  in  old  standing  cases 
there  is  nothing  of  the  kind  to  be  detected.  Lameness  is  not 
always  present,  but  if  the  horse  is  rattled  over  hard  ground,  he 
will  be  more  likely  to  show  the  effects  on  the  next  day,  by  going 
short  and  sore,  than  if  he  were  free  from  this  disease. 

The  treatment  should  be  confined  to  recent  cases,  for  in  old 
standing  ones,  unless  lameness  shows  itself,  it  is  better  to  avoid 
any  interference.  A  seton,  with  rest,  has  sometimes  proved  very 
efficacious,  even  in  confirmed  ossification,  and  repeated  dressings 
with  the  biriiodide  of  mercury  ointment,  will,  in  those  cases  where 
the  inflammation  does  not  run  very  high,  afford  the  best  chance 
of  causing  the  absorption  of  some  of  the  bone,  for  a  complete  cure 
is  never  effected.  When  there  is  much  heat  in  the  part,  bleeding 
from  the  foot  may  be  adopted,  and  afterwards,  the  application  of 
cloths  dipped  in  cold  water,  with  the  addition  of  a  glass  of  tincture 
of  arnica  to  quart  of  water.  In  confirmed  cases,  where  the  parts 
have  become  callous,  a  leather  sole  to  the  shoe  will  take  off  the 
vibration,  and  should  be  used  during  the  summer  season.  Scari- 
fication of  the  skin  covering  the  enlargement  with  a  lancet,  encour- 
aging the  bleeding  by  warm  water,  and  followed  by  the  use  of 
cold  water  as  soon  as  the  bleeding  has  ceased,  will  sometimes  do 
wonders  in  recent  cases.  The  scarification  should  be  repeated  at 
intervals  of  five  or  six  days,  taking  care  to  avoid  injury  to  the 
coronary  substance  near  the  hoofs,  which  is  sometimes  followed 
by  troublesome  sores. 

BONE  SPAVIN 

THIS  DISEASE,  so  frequently  the  cause  of  lameness  in  those 
horses  which  use  their  hocks  severely  (as  for  example  race-horses, 
hunters,  carriage-horses,  and  more  particularly  cart-horses),  con- 
sists in  exostosis  from  the  adjacent  external  surfaces  of  the  tursal 
bones,  always  showing  itself  at  the  inner  side  of  the  hock  joint, 
on  the  scaphoid  and  cuneiform  bones,  and  extending  to  the  head  of 
the  internal  small  metatarsal  bone.  As  in  the  case  of  splint,  the 
occurrence  of  exostosis  on  the  internal  rather  than  on  the  external 
side  of  the  hock  has  been  accounted  for  by  the  supposition  that 
increased  weight  is  thrown  upon  the  internal  small  metatarsal  bone, 
from  the  turning  up  of  the  outer  heel  of  the  shoe,  which  is  the 
common  practice  of  smiths.  It  appears  to  me,  however,  that  the 
contrary  is  the  case,  and  that  though  more  stress  is  laid  upon  the 
foot  on  that  side,  there  is  less  weight  on  the  inner  side  of  the  hock, 
which  has  a  tendency  to  spring  open  in  that  direction.  This  will 
cause  a  strain  upon  the  ligaments  connecting  the  tarsal  bones,  and 
nature  coming  t:>  their  aid  throws  out  bone,  which  ultimately  sub- 


BONE  SPAVIN.  303 

stitutes  anchylosis  for  ligamentous  union  betwei  ti  these  bones.  In 
all  the  actions  of  the  hind  leg,  from  the  natural  shape  of  the  hock, 
and  more  especially  in  those  horses  which  are  naturally  "  cow- 
hocked,"  there  is  a  tendency  to  yield  inwards  rather  than  in  the 
opposite  direction.  The  consequence  is  that  there  is  more  strain 
upon  the  ligamentous  fibres  which  connect  the  scaphoid  with  the 
two  cuneiform  and  the  internal  metatarsal,  than  upon  those  uniting 
the  cuboid  with  the  os  calcis  and  external  metatarsal  bone.  Hence, 
although  exostosis  does  sometimes  show  itself  in  other  parts  of  the 
tcirsal  bones,  it  here,  as  in  the  fore  leg,  is  almost  always  confined 
to  what  is  called  the  "  spavin  place,"  namely,  the  contiguous  sur- 
faces of  the  scaphoid,  cuneiform,  and  internal  metatarsal  bones. 
In  very  bad  cases  the  articular  cartilage  becomes  involved,  and 
there  is  not  only  an  external  casing  of  new  bone,  but  the  internal 
surfaces  absolutely  coalesce  or  anchylose. 

THE  SYMPTOMS  of  spavin  are  a  hard  substance  showing  itself 
beyond  the  proper  level  of  the  hock  joint.  There  may  or  may  not 
be  lameness,  but  if  bone  is  thrown  out  the  disease  is  established. 
In  recent  cases  whenever  the  horse  is  worked  he  will  after  rest 
limp  in  his  action,  but  the  lameness  soon  goes  off,  and  does  not 
show  itself  again  until  the  part  has  been  suffered  to  become  stiff 
by  a  rest  of  an  hour  or  two.  The  lameness  is  very  remarkable, 
and  differs  greatly  from  that  shown  in  any  other  disease.  The  leg- 
is  drawn  up  with  a  quick  catch,  and  yet  there  is  a  dragging  of  the 
limb,  indicating  not  only  pain  in  the  joint,  but  a  want  of  action  in 
it.  In  the  early  stages  the  latter  is  not  clearly  developed,  but 
afterwards  it  is  so  well  marked  that  a  spavin  may  be  pronounced 
to  exist  without  an  examination  of  the  joint.  Where  lameness  is 
not  established,  great  care  should  be  exercised  in  pronouncing  on 
the  existence  of  spavin,  for  some  hocks  are  naturally  formed  with 
prominent  heads  of  the  internal  metatarsal  bones,  and  the  inexpe- 
rienced eye  and  hand  are  very  apt  to  mistake  these  for  exostosis. 
In  such  cases,  by  comparing  the  two  hocks  it  will  generally  be 
seen  that  they  are  both  exactly  alike,  while  in  spavin,  although 
both  joints  may  be  the  seat  of  mischief,  yet  they  will  seldom  mani- 
fest the  disease  to  the  same  extent. 

The  treatment  should  be  directed  to  the  abatement  of  the  inflam- 
mation which  gives  rise  to  the  pain,  and  also  to  promote  absorption 
of  the  new  growth.  Veterinary  surgeons  are  very  apt  to  assert 
that  the  disease  cannot  be  cured,  and  that  a  spavined  horse  will 
always  remain  the  subject  of  it,  and  therefore  unsound.  But  prac- 
tically it  is  known  that  many  a  hock  which  has  been  the  seat  of 
undoubted  spavin  loses  all  external  enlargement,  and  no  lameness 
is  shown  in  it,  although  tried  most  severely  through  a  series  of 
years.  Still  on  dissection  after  death,  the  ligaments  will  not  show 
their  natural  white  and  glistening  structure,  and  the  tarsal  bones 


304  THE  HORSE. 

will  be  to  a  certain  extent  united  by  anchylosis.  In  very  bad 
cases  there  will  be  also  caries  of  the  articulatory  surfaces,  and  with 
it  inflammation  of  the  synovial  membranes,  which  may  and  often 
does  exist  without  the  caries.  Now  as  these  are  much  more  for- 
midable diseases  than  exostosis,  and  far  more  difficult  either  to 
cure  or  palliate,  it  follows  that  although  certain  remedies  will  be 
generally  successful  with  genuine  bone  spavin  (exostosis),  yet  they 
will  fail  when  the  above  complication  exists.  The  treatment  must 
therefore  be  adapted  to  the  exact  nature  and  extent  of  the  disease. 
Prior  to  the  adoption  of  any  plan  the  joint  should  be  rested,  the 
outer  heel  of  the  shoe  should  be  lowered,  the  corn  should  be  taken 
away,  and  the  system  cooled  by  appropriate  treatment.  After 
these  precautions  are  taken,  the  next  thing  is  to  decide  upon  the 
remedies  which  will  be  suited  to  the  case.  They  consist  in — 1. 
Blisters,  which  have  a  tendency  to  cause  absorption  ;  2.  Firing ;  3. 
Setons,  with  or  without  subcutaneous  scarification ;  4.  Division  of 
the  nerve.  If  there  is  simply  a  slight  exostosis,  with  little  lameness, 
and  no  evidence  of  the  joint  being  implicated,  the  biniodide  of  mer- 
cury may  be  applied  as  described  at  page  300.  Repeated  dressings 
will  be  necessary,  and  the  joint  must  have  at  least  two  months'  abso- 
lute rest,  the  horse  being  placed  in  a  loose  box.  This  remedy  is 
often  successful,  but  it  will  fail  utterly  where  the  exostosis  is  ex- 
tensive, or  there  is  caries,  or  even  severe  inflammation  of  the 
synovial  membrane.  Arsenic,  sulphuric  acid,  and  other  caustic 
applications,  have  been  counted  as  infallible  cures;  but  while  they 
are  just  as  certain  to  produce  a  blemish  as  firing,  the  extent  to 
which  the  inflammation  and  sloughing,  caused  by  them,  go  is  far 
more  completely  beyond  our  control.  Arsenic  has  been  known  to 
destroy  the  joint,  by  producing  a  slough  of  the  synovial  membrane, 
and  it  is  said  that  the  sulphuric  acid,  which,  however,  is  often  very 
successful,  has  had  a  similar  unfortunate  result ;  but  of  its  being- 
followed  by  serious  blemishes  there  is  abundant  proof.  Firing  is 
the  safest,  and,  therefore,  the  usual  plan  adopted  for  spavin,  and 
on  the  first  intimation  of  the  disease  it  is  often  adopted  without 
any  necessity  for  having  recourse  to  so  disfiguring  a  process.  Its 
chief  advantage  is,  that  while  it  is  a  certain  means  of  establishing 
a  strong  counter-irritation,  it  has  no  tendency  to  cause  any  increase 
of  inflammation  in  the  structures  beneath  the  skin,  and  therefore 
the  good  it  does  is  unalloyed  by  any  counterbalancing  evil.  It  is 
now  the  fashion  to  deny  its  use,  and  horsemasters  are  often  tempted 
to  try  some  substitute  for  it  in  the  hope  of  escaping  a  blemish ;  but 
too  often  they  are  compelled  to  submit  to  it  at  last,  and  probably 
after  the  disease  has  been  aggravated  by  some  "unfailing"  remedy. 
If  there  is  a  strong  desire  expressed  to  avoid  a  blemish,  the  vete- 
rinary surgeon  is  perfectly  warranted  in  doing  all  in  his  power  to 
effect  a  cure  without  the  use  of  the  irons;  but  the  mere  fashion  of 


SPAVIN— SHOULDER-JOINT  LAMENESS.  305 

the  day  should  not  induce  him  to  decry  a  plan  which  has  for  so 
many  years  been  proved  to  be  successful.  In  human  surgery  the 
same  course  has  been  adopted,  and  for  the  last  thirty  or  forty 
years  the  actual  cautery  has  been  voted  "  barbarous"  in  this 
country.  Now,  however,  a  counter  current  is  setting  in,  and  it  is 
the  general  opinion  of  the  first  hospital  surgeons  of  the  day  that, 
in  certain  diseases  of  the  joints^  no  remedy  is  nearly  so  efficacious. 
All  sorts  of  attempts  are  made  to  render  the  use  of  the  hot  iron 
less  repugnant  to  the  senses;  but  in  the  case  of  the  horse  it  is  only 
necessary  to  measure  its  comparative  utility  and  the  amount  of 
pain  which  it  gives.  The  former  has  been  already  considered,  and 
as  to  the  latter,  if  the  irons  are  properly  heated,  I  much  doubt 
whether  their  action  is  not  less  painful  than  that  of  any  other 
counter-irritant.  Setons,  perhaps,  give  less  pain  if  skilfully  in- 
serted, and  they  are  admirable  remedies,  having  nearly  the  same 
beneficial  effects  as  firing,  and  leaving  a  far  slighter  blemish.  They 
should  be  passed  beneath  a  considerable  track  of  the  skin,  covering 
the  "  spavin  place,"  and  the  tape  requires  to  be  smeared  with  blis- 
tering cerate  to  produce  sufficient  irritation.  Their  use  by  them- 
selves is  often  sufficient,  but  when  preceded  by  subcutaneous 
scarification  they  seem  to  act  even  more  certainly  than  firing. 

The  method  of  operation  is  similar  to  that  described  for  splints, 
but  it  requires  more  knowledge  of  the  anatomy  of  the  parts  to 
avoid  doing  mischief  by  cutting  into  one  of  the  joints.  There  is 
always  afterwards  considerable  effusion  into  the  subcutaneous 
cellular  membrane,  demanding  two  or  three  months  for  its  removal ; 
but  as  the  spavined  horse  requires  that  interval  of  rest,  this  is  of 
little  or  no  consequence.  When  the  disease  has  gone  so  far  that 
no  method  of  treatment  will  remove  it,  the  nerve  above  the  hock 
may  be  divided,  which  will  enable  the  horse  to  work  without  pain 
for  a  time,  but  the  disease  goes  on  the  faster,  and  the  benefit 
derived  is  only  temporary. 

EXOSTOSIS  OF  THE  HUMERUS  AND  SCAPULA.* 

THE  HEADS  OF  THE  BONES  adjacent  to  most  of  the  joints  of  the 
body  are  more  or  less  subject  to  exostosis,  though  not  so  frequently 
as  those  of  the  pastern  bones  and  tarsus.  Next  to  these  probably 
comes  the  shoulder  joint,  the  neighborhood  of  which  is  often  the  seat 
of  this  disease.  The  left  scapula  and  humerus  of  a  horse  are  often 
completely  anchylosed,  and  of  course  there  co-exists  a  proportionate 

*  Shoulder -joint  lameness,  as  it  is  generally  called,  is  much  more  frequent 
than  formerly,  generally  resulting  in  ulceration  of  the  bone.  It  is  readily 
seen  by  standing  before  the  horse,  and  is  at  once  detected  by  holding  up  the 
sound  member  from  the  ground  and  forcing  the  animal  to  stand  upon  the 
lame  one.  This  is  a  more  serious  affection  than  simple  sprain  of  the  mus- 
cles of  the  shoulder. — EDITOR. 

26*  u 


306  THE  HORSE. 

amount  of  lameness  during  the  progress  of  the  disease,  while  after 
the  anchylosis  takes  place  the  want  of  action  is  complete.  An 
examination  by  the  hand  of  the  point  of  the  shoulder  would  readily 
detect  so  large  a  growth  of  bone  as  this ;  but  smaller  ones  are  often 
thrown  out  beneath  the  mass  of  muscles  surrounding  the  shoulder 
joint,  and  consequently  beyond  the  reach  of  the  most  accomplished 
finger.  The  treatment  should  be  on  the  same  principle  as  for 
spavin,  omitting  the  subcutaneous  scarification,  which  is  not  here 
practicable  on  account  of  the  nature  of  the  joint.  Blisters,  and 
especially  with  the  biniodide  of  mercury,  will  be  the  most  likely  to 
succeed,  but  in  most  cases  the  cure  will  be  only  partial. 

t  .FISTULA  OF  THE  WITHERS.* 

WHEN  A  SADDLE  has  been  allowed  to  press  upon  the  spinous 
processes  of  the  dorsal  vertebrae,  it  produces  inflammation,  which, 
if  neglected,  leads  to  the  formation  of  an  abscess.  But  the  situa- 
tion of  the  part  is  such  that  the  matter  cannot  escape,  even  if  the 
skin  over  the  points  of  the  bones  is  perforated,  and  it  has  a  ten- 
dency, by  the  force  of  gravity,  to  burrow  down  among  the  muscles 
which  connect  the  shoulder-blade  with  the  trunk.  The  conse- 
quence is,  that  there  is  extensive  inflammation,  and  often  lameness 
of  the  shoulder,  which  could  readily  have  been  prevented  by  using 
proper  care  before  the  mischief  was  done,  or  removed  by  the  adop- 
tion of  suitable  treatment  afterwards  before  the  disease  is  con- 
firmed. 

The  symptoms  in  the  early  stage  (that  is,  before  a  fistula  is 
established)  are  merely  an  enlargement  of  the  ends  of  the  spinous 
processes,  accompanied  by  heat  and  tenderness,  but  these  go  on 
until  an  abscess  forms,  which  may  be  known  to  the  touch  by  the 
fluctuating  nature  of  the  sensation  which  it  gives  on  pressure 
by  the  fingers  of  each  hand.  As  soon  as  this  is  made  out,  an 
opening  should  be  made  as  low  down  as  possible  on  the  right  side, 
taking  care  that  it  will  allow  all  the  matter  to  run  out  as  fast  as  it 
forms.  The  reason  why  the  right  side  should  be  chosen  is,  that 
most  horses  lie  down  on  that  side;  but  if  the  subject  of  fistulous 
withers  is  in  the  habit  of  lying  on  the  left  side,  the  opening 
should  be  made  there  in  preference.  When  an  actual  fistula  has 
been  established,  and  the  matter  points  before  or  behind  the 
.shoulder-blade,  a  sufficiently  large  opening  should  at  once  be  made, 
taking  care  again  that  there  is  no  pouch  below  it  which  will 
permit  any  accumulation.  It  is  better  to  divide  even  important 
muscles  than  to  suffer  this  to  exist.  In  recent  cases  the  establish- 
ment of  this  dependent  opening  will  alone  suffice  to  effect  a  cure ; 
but  in  those  of  long  standing,  the  lining  of  the  fistulous  passage 


Commonly  called  in  the  United  States,  Thiselo. — EDITOR. 


POLL  EVIL— CARIES  OF  THE  JAW.  307 

or  passages  has  become  converted  into  a  substance  almost  resem- 
bling cartilage,  and  refuses  to  throw  out  healthy  granulations,  so 
as  to  lead  to  adhesion  of  its  walls.  Here  a  stimulus  must  be 
applied  to  their  interior,  which  may  be  either  mechanical,  in  the 
shape  of  a  seton  tape  passed  through  from  end  to  end  and  left 
there,  or  chemical,  by  means  of  injections.  The  latter  are  best 
composed  of  chloride  of  zinc  diluted  with  water.  One  drachm  of 
this  should  be  mixed  in  a  pint  of  water,  and  carefully  injected 
into  every  part  of  the  sinus  twice  or  thrice  a  week. 

POLL  EVIL. 

POLL  EVIL  is  exactly  similar  in  its  nature  to  fistulous  withers, 
being  produced  by  a  blow  on  the  prominent  ridge,  which  is  situ- 
ated on  the  top  of  the  poll.  The  blow  is  generally  produced  in 
the  stable,  by  the  horse  suddenly  lifting  his  head  and  striking  it 
against  a  low  beam  or  the  lintel  of  the  door.  Or  it  may  be  caused  by 
frequently  straining  against  the  halter  rein,  and  thus  producing 
irritation  and  inflammation  of  the  part.  As  the  ligamentum  colli 
is  attached  above,  and  anterior  to7  the  inflamed  part,  when  matter 
forms  it  is  confined  and  gives  intense  pain;  besides  which,  it  is  a  long 
time  before  it  opens  a  passage  by  natural  means.  The  symptoms 
are  a  painful  swelling  on  the  poll,  of  a  soft  nature,  accompanied  by 
the  sense  of  fluctuation  on  examination,  just  like  that  described  as 
accompanying  fistulous  withers.  The  treatment  must  be  precisely 
similar  to  that  described  in  the  last  section ;  but  as  the  matter 
when  formed  lies  very  close  to  the  spinal  cord,  some  caution  must 
be  exercised  in  adopting  stimulating  injections,  which  are  apt  to 
produce  severe  inflammation,  likely  to  extend  to  these  important 
structures.  So  also  in  opening  it,  the  knife  should  not  be  carried 
deeply  into  the  situation  of  the  spinal  marrow,  which  here  lies 
exposed,  and  is  easily  divided  (as  in  the  operation  known  by  the 
name  of  pithing),  but  it  should  be  used  in  a  slanting  manner,  again 
selecting  the  right  side  in  preference  to  the  left.  A  seton  is  here 
the  safest  plan  for  promoting  granulation  and  adhesion,  and  as  the 
tistulous  track  is  seldom  very  long,  the  tape  will  work  its  way 
gradually  out,  by  which  time  the  cure  is  effected. 

CARIES  OF  THE  JAW. 

THE  UPPER  JAW,  FROM  ITS  EXPOSED  SITUATION,  and  the 
lower  from  the  same  cause,  and  also  from  the  abuse  of  the  bit, 
are  liable  to  mechanical  injury,  which  ends  in  caries  (ulceration), 
or  sometimes  in  necrosis  (mortification)  of  the  part.  Caries  of 
the  lower  jaw,  between  the  tushes  and  grinders,  is  extremely 
common,  owing  to  the  barbarous  punishment  which  is  inflicted  by 
the  use  of  long  levers  to  curb  bits,  together  with  light  curb  chains. 
The  bony  plate  forming  the  roof  of  the  mouth  is  also  often  injured 


308  THE  HORSE. 

by  the  pressure  of  the  part  when  a  tight  noseband  is  employed  to 
keep  the  mouth  shut.  Either  may  be  known  by  the  existence  of  a 
sore  of  a  peculiar  character  j  there  is  a  depression  indicating  a  loss 
of  substance,  and  in  this  lies  a  mass  of  unhealthy  granulation 
(proud  flesh),  which  is  not  attached  to  the  surrounding  surface, 
being  only  fixed  to  the  bottom  of  the  cavity,  or  perhaps  partially  on  one 
side.  A  watery  and  offensive  discharge  goes  on  constantly,  but 
this  is  lost  in  the  saliva,  and  very  often  the  only  circumstance  that 
draws  attention  to  the  disease  is  the  constant  bleeding  from  the 
mouth,  on  the  slightest  contact  of  the  bit.  When  this  occurs,  the 
mouth  being  full  of  pink  froth,  it  should  be  carefully  examined, 
and  the  state  of  things  here  described  will  generally  be  found  to 
exist.  The  treatment  should  consist  in  the  adoption  of  a  bit 
pressing  upon  another  part  of  the  mouth,  changing  the  curb  for  a 
snaffle.  The  wound  should  be  kept  open  by  the  use  of  caustic 
(lunar)  daily,  which  should  be  pushed  deeply  into  it  for  couple  of 
seconds,  and  will  destroy  the  unhealthy  granulations.  By  con- 
tinuing these  measures,  taking  care  not  to  do  more  with  the 
caustic  than  necessary  to  keep  down  the  fungous  growth,  a  cure 
can  always  be  effected  in  course  of  time,  without  the  aid  of  the 
trephine  or  chisel  to  cut  away  the  diseased  bone. 

OSTEO  SARCOMA.* 

THE  JAWS  are  occasionally  attacked  by  a  malignant  growth  from 
their  cellular  structure  of  a  substance  partaking  of  the  nature  both 
of  cartilage  and  bone.  It  increases  sometimes  to  an  enormous  size, 
and  forms  a  large  irregular  tumor,  which  interferes  terribly  with 
their  functions,  often  growing  so  as  to  prevent  the  closure  of  the 
teeth.  The  symptoms  are  entirely  local,  and  when  a  large,  unwieldy, 
and  irregularly  hard  swelling  on  either  of  the  jaws  is  met  with,  it 
may  safely  be  set  down  as  belonging  to  this  class  of  disease.  No 
treatment  is  of  any  avail  except  excision,  which  can  rarely  be  carried 
through  without  rendering  the  horse  unserviceable  for  his  ordinary 
duties. 

FRACTURES. 

BONES  are  not  unfrequently  broken  in  the  horse;  but  as  the 
accident  generally  occurs  either  during  the  violent  exertion  of  the 
muscles  of  the  limb,  or  from  great  external  force,  it  follows  that  in 
most  cases  the  injury  to  the  soft  parts  is  so  -great  as  to  forbid  the 
hope  of  a  perfect  reparation.  When,  for  instance,  a  canna  or 
pastern  bone  gives  way  during  the  shock  sustained  in  coming  down 

*  Osteo  Sarcoma  is  very  frequent  in  the  western  and  south-western  States, 
and  is  known  by  the  name  of  "  BIG  HEAD"  (Osteo  Porosis},  arising  from 
the  deposition  of  too  much  bony  matter.  Treatment  is  unsatisfactory,  as 
the  disease  is  gradual  and  progressive  in  its  character,  stopping  mastication  ; 
and  death  from  starvation  is  the  result. — EDITOR. 


FRACTURES.  309 

on  hard  ground  from  a  leap,  either  at  the  moment  of  the  fracture 
or  before  the  horse  can  be  stopped,  the  upper  end  pierces  the  skin, 
and  also  tears  or  bruises  the  tendons  which  alone  connect  it  to  the 
part  below.  In  surgical  language,  the  fracture  is  a  compound  one  ; 
and  from  the  great  tendency  to  contraction  of  the  muscles,  the 
difficulty  of  bringing  the  disunited  ends  into  apposition  (or  setting 
them)  is  immense.  Moreover,  the  horse  is  very  unmanageable 
when  an  attempt  is  made  to  confine  him,  and  the  means  which  are 
adopted  to  keep  the  fracture  set  must  therefore  be  very  complete 
as  compared  with  those  which  will  serve  for  the  restoration  of  the 
human  being  who  has  sustained  a  similar  accident.  Hence,  unless 
the  animal  is  wanted  for  stud  purposes  alone,  or  unless  the  fracture 
is  a  simple  one,  with  little  displacement,  it  will  seldom  be  worth 
the  attempt  to  procure  the  union  of  a  broken  bone  in  the  horse. 
Many  cases  are  on  record  in  which  after  a  fracture  of  a  canna  or 
pastern  bone  a  complete  cure  has  been  effected,  but  they  must  be 
considered  as  exceptional,  and  not  as  affording  as  much  encourage- 
ment. 

THE  SYMPTOMS  OF  SIMPLE  FRACTURE  are  a  greater  or  less 
degree  of  deformity  of  the  limb,  swelling,  pain  on  motion,  and  a 
peculiar  grating  or  jarring  which  is  felt  rather  than  heard,  and 
which  has  received  the  name  of  "  crepitus."  The  last  symptom 
can  only  be  made  out  when  the  broken  ends  of  the  bone  can  be 
brought  together ;  but  when  this  is  impossible,  the  alteration  of 
form  is  in  itself  sufficient  to  lead  to  a  detection  of  the  nature  of 
the  accident.  In  fractures  of  the  head  and  spine  there  is  no 
crepitus  felt,  and  the  effect  upon  the  brain  and  spinal  cord  of 
pressure  will  be  often  the  sole  means  of  coming  to  a  correct 
diagnosis.  Fractures  of  the  pelvis  are  very  difficult  to  make  out, 
unless  the  ala  of  the  ilium  is  broken  off,  which  is  a  common  acci- 
dent, for  here  the  unnatural  flatness  of  the  hip,  showing  itself 
without  any  great  difficulty  of  moving  the  hind  leg  of  that  side, 
plainly  marks  that  there  is  no  dislocation,  and  that  the  case  can 
only  be  one  of  fracture.  It  is  always  the  result  of  a  blow,  either 
when  the  horse  is  cast  in  a  stall  or  in  passing  through  a  narrow 
door-way,  or  from  a  similar  cause ;  and  there  will  therefore  be  some 
swelling  of  the  soft  parts  which  will  interfere  with  the  examination 
at  the  time,  but  as  nothing  can  be  done  to  restore  the  broken 
portion  to  its  place,  and  as  there  is  no  doubt  about  the  diagnosis 
from  dislocation,  this  is  of  little  consequence.  Fractures  of  the 
ribs  cannot  be  readily  detected ;  but  as  they  almost  always  follow 
a  kick  on  the  part,  and  as  they  do  not  require  any  treatment 
unless  their  broken  ends  press  upon  the  important  viscera  of  the 
thorax  or  abdomen,  it  will  be  well  to  wait  for  the  symptoms  which 
are  caused  by  this  mechanical  irritation  before  resorting  to  band- 
ages, &c.  When  a  fracture  occurs  in  any  of  the  bones  of  the 


310  THE  HORSE. 

extremities,  which  are  concealed  by  a  large  mass  of  muscle,  the 
total  inability  to  use  the  limb,  and  the  loose  way  in  which  it  is 
connected  to  the  body,  so  as  to  allow  it  to  be  moved  in  any  direc- 
tion, indicate  the  general  nature  of  the  case  without  difficulty, 
though  a  careful  examination  must  be  made  by  a  skilful  surgeon 
before  the  exact  particulars  relating  to  it  can  be  ascertained. 

The  treatment  will  depend  upon  the  bone  which  is  broken,  and 
whether  the  fracture  is  simple  or  compound.  In  most  cases  of 
the  latter  description  none  will  avail,  and  the  horse  had  better  be 
destroyed ;  but  if  the  owner  is  averse  to  this,  it  will  be  on  the 
whole  the  best  surgery,  though  apparently  not  very  scientific,  to 
encase  the  parts  with  adhesive  plasters  and  tow,  and  then  treat 
it  as  a  simple  fracture. 

IF  THE  BONES  OF  THE  SKULL  are  fractured,  unless  there  are 
symptoms  of  pressure  on  the  brain,  it  is  advisable  to  leave  all  to 
nature,  simply  keeping  the  patient  quiet  and  low,  and  if  in  a  high 
state  of  plethora,  bleeding  and  physicking. 

A  BROKEN  LOWER  JAW  is  by  no  means  uncommon  as  the  result 
of  a  kick.  The  best  treatment  is  to  set  the  fracture,  and  then 
mould  some  gutta  percha  to  it,  which  may  be  confined  behind  by 
strips  round  the  forehead  and  poll,  and  before  by  a  padded  strap 
passed  through  the  mouth  between  the  nippers  and  tushes,  and 
beneath  the  tongue.  The  horse  must  be  fed  upon  mashes  and 
steamed  food. 

IN  FRACTURES  OF  THE  SPINE  AND  PELVIS  nothing  can  be  done 
beyond  rest  and  lowering,  if  necessary,  by  bleeding  and  physic 

BROKEN  RIBS,  when  they  cause  inflammation  of  the  lungs  or 
liver  by  their  sharp  ends  pressing  upon  these  organs,  may  be 
treated  by  buckling  two  or  three  ordinary  rollers  abreast  of  one 
another  tightly  round  the  chest,  so  as  to  prevent  the  natural  dila- 
tation of  the  thorax,  which  takes  place  in  inspiration,  and  which 
keeps  up  the  irritation  by  constantly  moving  the  ends  of  the  ribs. 
The  general  means  necessary  to  adopt  to  relieve  the  internal  mis- 
chief will  depend  upon  its  extent. 

WHEN  EITHER  THE  SCAPULA,  HUMERUS,  OR  FEMUR  is  broken, 
all  that  can  be  done  is  to  sling  the  horse,  and  by  bandages  endeavor 
to  bring  the  limb  into  as  natural  a  position  as  possible,  and  keep  it 
there.  There  must  of  necessity  be  great  displacement  of  the  ends 
of  the  bones,  and  these  cannot  by  any  means  be  brought  into  appo- 
sition ;  but  the  sides  in  contact  with  one  another,  as  they  over- 
ride, will  unite  in  course  of  time,  and  this  is  all  that  can  be 
achieved  by  the  utmost  efforts  of  the  veterinary  surgeon. 

FRACTURES  of  the  lower  part  of  the  tibia,  of  the  radius,  of  the 
canna  bones  and  the  pasterns,  if  simple,  must  be  treated  by  adjust- 
ing the  ends  (which  is  the  chief  difficulty,  and  will  often  require 
strong  extension  to  be  employed),  and  then  adapting  to  the  sides 


FRACTURES— DISEASES  OF  MUSCLES,  ETC.  311 

of  the  bones  splints  of  wood  or  gutta  percha.  If,  by  the  aid  of 
assistants,  the  parts  can  be  brought  into  a  good  position,  these  may 
be  carefully  adjusted  to  maintain  it,  and  may  be  kept  in  place  by 
tapes  or  straps  fastened  moderately  tightly  around  them.  It  is 
useless,  however,  to  attempt  a  minute  description  of  the  means  to 
be  employed,  which  can  hardly  be  understood  without  a  demon- 
stration. Many  horses  have  recovered  a  fair  use  of  the  limb  by 
the  application  of  splints,  without  slinging,  as  they  will  take  care 
to  avoid  resting  on  that  foot  in  consequence  of  the  pain  it  gives ; 
but  under  the  care  of  an  accomplished  veterinary  surgeon,  slings 
will  afford  the  best  chance  of  recovery. 


CHAPTEE  XX. 
INJURY  AND  DISEASES  OF  THE   JOINTS,  MUSCLES,  AND  TENDONS. 

Diseases  of  Muscle,  Tendon,  and  Ligament — Of  Cartilage  and 
Synovial  Membrane — Inflamed  Tendinous  Sheaths — Inflamed 
Bur  see,  Mucoscz — Strains — Those  of  the  Back  and  Loins — Of 
the  Shoulder— Of  the  Knee— Of  the  Fetlock— Of  the  Coffin 
Joint — Of  the  Suspensory  Ligaments — Of  the  Back-Sinews — 
Breaking  Down — Strains  of  the  Hip- Joint,  Stifle,  and  Hock — 
Curb — Dislocation —  Wounds  of  Joints. 

DISEASES  OF  MUSCLE,  TENDON,  AND  LIGAMENT. 

MUSCLE  is  subject  to  simple  atrophy,  with  or  without  fatty  de- 
generation. The  disease  shows  itself  by  a  wasting  away  of  the 
part,  accompanied  by  a  flabby  feel  to  the  touch.  It  should  be 
treated  by  friction,  gentle  but  regular  work,  and  steel  given  inter- 
nally, one  drachm  of  the  sulphate  of  iron  powdered  being  mixed 
with  the  corn  twice  a  day. 

RHEUMATIC  INFLAMMATION  of  a  muscle  or  muscles  is  one  of 
the  most  common  of  all  the  diseases  to  which  the  horse  is  subject. 
Most  frequently  it  attacks  the  muscles  of  the  shoulder,  or  of  the 
loins,  sometimes  both  those  parts  being  involved  at  the  same  time. 
When  acute  it  receives  the  name  of  a  chill,  and  is  generally  brought 
on  by  exposing  the  horse  to  a  draught  of  air  after  work,  or  by  im- 
mersing him  in  cold  water  up  to  his  belly,  with  a  view  either  to 
refresh  him,  or  when  the  groom  is  lazy,  to  save  him  the  trouble  of 
cleaning.  The  symptoms  are  lameness  or  inability  to  use  the  part, 
the  horse,  when  forced  to  do  so,  giving  expressions  of  severe  pain. 
If  the  shoulder  is  affected,  the  foot  is  not  put  to  the  ground,  and 
when  the  leg  is  moved  backwards  and  forwards  by  the  hand,  great 


312  THE  HORSE. 

pain  is  evidently  experienced.  In  severe  cases  there  is  fever  with 
accelerated  pulse  (70  to  80),  accompanied  often  by  profuse  sweat- 
ing, and  heaving  at  the  flanks,  the  legs  remaining  warm.  After  a 
short  time  the  part  swells,  and  is  excessively  tender.  The  treat- 
ment should  be  by  a  copious  bleeding,  if  the  horse  is  of  a  mode- 
rately strong  constitution ;  indeed,  in  severe  cases  it  should  be 
carried  on  till  the  pulse  is  greatly  reduced,  and  repeated  the  next 
day,  if  it  returns  to  its  original  hardness  and  fulness.  Tfce  bowels 
should  be  acted  on  as  soon  as  it  is  safe  to  do  so,  and  if  the  dung 
is  very  hard,  backraking  and  clysters  should  be  used,  to  accelerate 
the  action  of  the  medicine.  The  best  aperient  is  castor  oil,  of 
which  a  pint  may  be  given  with  an  ounce  of  sweet  spirits  of  nitre. 
When  this  has  acted,  if  the  kidneys  are  not  doing  their  duty,  a 
quarter  of  an  ounce  of  nitre  and  a  drachm  of  camphor  may  be 
made  into  a  ball  and  given  twice  a  day. 

CHRONIC  RHEUMATISM  of  the  muscles  is  similar  in  its  nature 
to  the  acute  form,  but,  as  its  name  implies,  it  is  more  lasting,  and 
of  less  severity.  It  often  flies  from  one  part  to  another,  attacking 
the  ligaments  and  tendons,  as  well  as  the  muscular  fibres.  It  is 
seldom  much  under  control,  and  attention  should  be  paid  rather  to 
improve  the  general  health  than  to  subdue  the  local  affection. 

SMALL  TUMORS,  of  about  the  size  of  a  pea,  often  form  upon  the 
tendons,  especially  the  "  back  sinews"  of  the  fore  legs.  They  may 
or  may  not  occasion  lameness,  but  they  are  always  to  be  regarded 
with  suspicion.  As  long  as  they  remain  indolent,  they  are  better 
left  alone;  but  when  they  produce  inflammation  and  pain,  the 
best  remedy  is  the  biniodide  of  mercury  ointment,  described  at 
page  300. 

DISEASES  OF  CARTILAGE  AND  SYNOVIAL  MEMBRANE. 

CARTILAGE  is  subject  chiefly  to  ulceration.  When  this  occurs, 
its  cells  become  enlarged  and  crowded  with  corpuscles,  which  burst 
and  discharge  their  contents ;  the  intercellular  structure  at  the 
same  time  splits  into  bands,  which,  together  with  the  corpuscles, 
form  a  fibro-nucleated  membrane  on  the  face  of  the  cartilage.  In 
old  horses,  the  ulcerated  cartilage  covering  the  tibial  surface  of  the 
astragalus  is  sometimes  converted  into  a  soft  fibrous  substance, 
which  ultimately  assumes  the  appearance  of  hard  and  dense  bone, 
commonly  known  as  "  porcellaneous  or  ivory  deposit."  It  is  ac- 
companied by  no  symptoms  of  inflammation ;  the  sole  evidence  of 
disease,  during  life,  being  a  stiffness  of  the  joint,  and  a  peculiar 
grating  or  crackling  noise  during  all  attempts  at  movement.  When 
caries  of  the  head  of  a  bone  has  caused  a  loss  of  substance,  the 
cartilage  dies,  and  is  gradually  broken  down  by  decomposition  ; 
but  this  cannot  be  said  to  be  a  disease  of  the  cartilage  itself.  With 
the  exception  of  navicular  disease  (which  will  be  included  under 


DISEASES  OF  CARTILAGE  AND  SJNOVIAL  MEMBRANE.      313 

ihe  diseases  of  the  foot),  ulceration  of  cartilage  is  not  very  com- 
mon in  the  horse. 

ACUTE  INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  SYNOVIAL  MEMBRANE  IS  seldom 

met  with ;  but  a  chronic  state,  inducing  an  excessive  secretion  of 
synovia,  is  extremely  common.  The  most  usual  situation  is  at  the 
hock,  where  the  swelling  has  received  the  name  of  bag-spavin  and 
thoroughpin  ;  but  they  also  occur  at  the  fetlock  and  knee  joints ; 
in  the  former  case  being  sometimes  confounded  with  windgalls, 
which  are  inflamed  bursae  mucosae. 

BOG-SPAVIN  is  very  apt  to  attack  young  horses,  when  they  are 
over-worked,  before  being  fully  seasoned ;  but  it  may  occur  at  all 
ages.  It  shows  itself  at  the  inner  side  of  the  joint,  because  here 
the  ligaments  are  wider  apart,  and  there  is  more  room  for  disten- 
sion. Its  seat  is  the  capsule  between* the  tibia  and  astragalus, 
which  is  here  unprotected  by  any  strong  fibrous  covering,  and 
readily  yields  to  the  gradual  pressure  of  the  secretion  from  its  in- 
ternal surface. 

THOROUGHPIN  may  be  either  an  increased  secretion  of  the  syno- 
vial  capsule,  between  the  astragalus  and  os  calcis,  or  between  the 
scaphoid  and  cuneiform  bones,  or  of  the  bursa  mucosa  lying  be- 
tween the  tendo  Achillis  and  the  tendo  perforatus.  In  the  first 
of  these  cases,  it  often  coexists  with  bog-spavin,  and  the  synovia 
may  be  made  to  fluctuate  from  one  bag  to  the  other,  the  only  line 
of  demarcation  being  the  astragalo-calcanean  ligament. 

Both  bog-spavin  and  thoroughpin  may  exist,  or  either  separately, 
without  occasioning  lameness;  but  where  they  are  just  established, 
there  is  generally  some  small  degree  of  active  inflammation,  which 
causes  a  slight  lameness  on  first  going  out  of  the  stable,  but  soon 
disappearing. 

The  treatment  should  be  by  pressure,  kept  up  for  a  long  time, 
by  means  of  a  carefully-adjusted  truss,  alternated  with  cold  affu- 
sion, and  the  use  afterwards  of  tincture  of  arnica,  diluted  with 
water,  as  a  wash.  Subcutaneous  scarification  has  succeeded  in 
some  few  cases  in  causing  the  secretion  to  cease ;  but  it  has  so 
often  produced  extensive  inflammation  of  the  joint,  that  the  opera- 
tion is  by  no  means  to  be  recommended.  Blistering  with  biniodide 
of  mercury  has  also  occasionally  answered ;  but  no  plan  is  so  suc- 
cessful, on  the  whole,  as  pressure,  alternating  with  cold  affusion. 

DELICATE  YOUNG  FOALS  are  subject  to  a  rheumatic  inflamma- 
tion of  their  synovial  membranes,  specially  displayed  in  the  knees 
and  hocks,  and  apparently  caused  by  exposure  to  cold.  It  seldom 
goes  on  to  produce  disorganization  of  the  cartilages,  but  the  capsu- 
lar  ligaments  are  distended  with  thin  yellow  synovia,  causing 
considerable  stiffness.  The  cellular  tissue  around  the  joints  also 
becomes  cedematous,  and  the  legs  fill  all  the  way  down  to  the  feet. 
It  is  commonly  known  among  breeders  as  the  "joint  evil,"  and 
27 


314  THE  HORSE. 

thougL  in  itself  it  is  not  dangerous,  yet  it  marks  the  existence  of 
constitutional  weakness  which  is  likely  to  occasion  some  more  fatal 
malady.  The  treatment  should  consist  in  attending  to  the  general 
health  by  strengthening  the  mare,  which  is  best  done  by  giving 
her  a  drachm  of  the  sulphate  of  iron  in  her  corn  twice  a  day. 
The  joints  of  the  foal  should  be  rubbed  with  equal  parts  of  soap 
liniment  and  spirit  of  turpentine,  and  it  should  be  assisted  to  stand 
for  the  purpose  of  sucking  at  regular  short  intervals  if  unable  to 
help  itself.  In  aggravated  cases,  however,  the  foal  is  not  likely 
to  recover  its  general  strength,  and  it  may  be  better  to  destroy  it, 
but  so  long  as  it  can  stand  and  feeds  well  hopes  may  be  enter- 
tained of  the  joints  recovering. 

INFLAMED  TENDINOUS  SHEATHS. 

EVERY  PRACTICAL  HORSEMAN  is  aware  that  the  sheaths  in 
which  the  back  sinews  and  other  tendons  are  lodged  are  liable  to 
inflammation  and  thickening,  without  the  tendon  itself  being 
involved.  By  passing  the  hand  down  the  leg,  an  irregular  network 
may  be  felt  surrounding  the  tendons,  which  move  up  and  down 
without  disturbing  it ;  and  the  surrounding  cellular  membrane  is 
also  thickened,  and  becomes  hard  and  unyielding.  There  may  be 
considerable  heat  about  the  part,  but  often  it  is  quite  cool ;  and 
the  disease  may  continue  for  months  without  any  great  lameness, 
and  with  nothing  to  draw  attention  to  it  (excepting  a  slight 
stiffness  on  leaving  the  stable)  but  the  sensation  communicated  to 
the  hand.  At  length,  an  unusually  severe  day's  work  sets  up 
active  inflammation,  the  leg  rapidly  fills,  and  there  is  so  much 
lameness  as  to  cause  the  horse  to  be  thrown  by. — The  treatment  in 
the  early  stage,  should  be  the  use  of  bandages,  constantly  kept 
wet  with  arnica  and  water,  and  nothing  but  walking  exercise. 
After  the  thickening  is  fully  established,  no  remedy  short  of 
blistering,  or  a  charge,  will  be  of  the  slightest  avail,  with  a  rest  of 
two  or  three  months. 

INFLAMED  BURS^E  MUCOS^. 

THESE  SYNOVIAL  BAGS  are  liable  to  inflammation,  either  from 
hard  work,  as  in  windgalls  and  thoroughpin,  or  from  blows,  as  in 
capped  hock  and  elbow.  The  latter  are  said  by  some  veterina- 
rians to  be  serous  abcesses ,  but  there  is  no  doubt  that  in  all 
horses  a  subcutaneous  bursa  exists  on  the  cap  of  the  elbow  and 
hock  j  and  these  become  inflamed  and  filled  with  a  very  thin 
synovia,  when  they  are  bruised.  They  never  extend  beyond  a 
certain  size,  and  have  no  tendency  to  burst;  nor  are  they  inclined 
to  a  healthy  termination  of  their  own  accord,  but  go  on  in  the 
same  condition  from  year  to  year. 

WINDGALLS,  OR  p<  ^FS,  are  the  most  usual  forms  of  these  en- 


INFLAMED  BUSJ5  MUCOS^E.  315 

largements,  and  may  be  observed  in  the  legs  (hind  as  well  as  fore) 
of  nearly  every  hard- worked  horse,  after  a  time.  Great  care  in  the 
management  of  the  legs  by  bandaging  will  sometimes  keep  them 
off,  and  some  horses  have  naturally  no  tendency  to  form  them ; 
but  in  most  cases,  on  examining  the  legs,  just  above  the  fetlock 
joints,  of  horses  at  work,  a  little  oval  bag  may  be  felt  on  each 
side,  between  the  back-sinew  and  the  bone.  If  rtcent,  it  is  soft 
and  puffy  ;  but  if  the  work  is  hard,  and  the  wiudgall  is  of  long 
standing,  it  will  be  as  tense  as  a  drum.  The  synovial  bag  has  no 
communication  with  the  fetlock  joint;  but  there  is  another  sac  in 
front  of  the  joint,  and  beneath  the  tendons  of  the  extensors,  which 
is  often  enlarged,  though  not  so  much  so  as  the  seat  of  the  true 
windgall,  and  which  is  generally,  though  not  always,  continuous 
with  the  synovial  capsule  of  the  joint. — The  treatment  consists  in 
pressure  by  means  of  bandages,  and  the  application  of  cold  lotions, 
if  the  legs  are  hot  and  inflamed.  Blistering  and  rest  will  remove 
them  entirely;  but  no  sooner  is  the  horse  put  to  work  again,  than 
they  return  as  badly  as  ever.  There  is  no  radical  cure  but  subcu- 
taneous puncture  and  scarification,  and  this  will  produce  too  much 
adhesion  to  be  advantageously  applied. 

THE  FORM  OF  THOROUGHPIN  in  which  the  bursa  mucosa  be- 
tween the  tendo  Achillis  and  the  tendo  perforatus  is  inflamed  and 
filled  with  synovia,  has  been  alluded  to  at  page  313,  and  its  treat- 
ment is  there  described. 

CAPPED  HOCK  is  often  the  result  of  a  bruise  of  the  superficial 
bursa,  which  is  situated  on  the  point  of  the  hock,  immediately 
beneath  the  skin.  It  indicates  either  that  the  possessor  has  kicked 
in  the  stable  or  in  harness ;  but  it  is  more  frequently  caused  in 
the  former  way  than  in  the  latter.  The  swelling  is  sometimes 
slight,  being  then  just  sufficient  to  show  the  point  slightly  enlarged, 
and  to  give  a  soft,  puffy  sensation  to  the  fingers,  where  there  ought 
to  be  nothing  but  bone  felt  beneath  the  skin.  The  bursa  always 
rolls  freely  on  the  bone,  and  when  large,  it  can  be  laid  hold  of  and 
shaken  like  a  bladder  of  water. — The  treatment  should  be  directed 
to  abate  any  slight  inflammation  that  may  exist,  if  the  case  is 
established ;  but  in  recent  ones,  it  is  doubly  necessary  to  apply  cold 
lotions,  which,  however,  there  is  some  difficulty  in  doing,  owing  to 
the  prominent  nature  of  the  part.  A  piece  of  stout  calico  or  fine 
canvas  may,  however,  be  shaped  into  a  cap,  carefully  fitting  the 
point  of  the  hock;  and  this  being  tied  by  several  pieces  of  tape  in 
front  of  the  leg,  will  allow  not  only  of  the  application  of  cold 
lotions,  but  of  pressure  also.  By  this  plan,  continued  for  some 
weeks,  considerable  enlargements  have  been  removed,  but  they 
are  very  apt  to  return  on  the  slightest  bruise.  Setons  through  the 
bursa,  and  injections  into  its  cavity  of  stimulating  applications, 
have  often  been  tried ;  but  they  generally  do  more  harm  than 


316  THE  HORSE. 

good,  and  nothing  can  be  relied  on  but  the  conjoint  use  of  pressure 
and  cold  applications.  The  best  lotion  is  the  following: — 

Take  of  Tincture  of  Arnica 3  ozs. 

Muriate  of  Ammonia 2     " 

Methylated  Spirit  of  Wine        ...  4      " 

Water 3  pints.     Mix. 

CAPPED  ELBOW  is  precisely  similar  in  its  nature  to  capped 
hock,  and  must  be  treated  in  the  same  way.  It  is  also  known  by 
the  name  of  capulet. 

OF  STEAINS. 

THE  FIBRES  OF  MUSCLES,  LIGAMENTS,  AND  TENDONS,  AND  THE. 

FASCIA  covering  them,  are  all  liable  to  be  overstretched,  and  more 
or  less  mechanically  injured.  This  is  called  a  strain,  the  symptoms, 
of  which  are  similar  to  the  inflammation  of  the  part  occurring 
ideopathically.  They  are  heat,  swelling,  and  pain  on  pressure  or 
movement,  shown  by  flinching  in  the  one  case,  and  lameness  in  the 
other.  In  some  cases  there  is  considerable  effusion  of  blood  or 
serum,  the  former  occurring  chiefly  in  the  muscles,  and  the  latter 
among  the  torn  fibres  of  the  tendons  or  ligaments.  The  symptoms 
and  treatment  will  depend  upon  the  part  injured,  which  will  be 
found  described  under  the  following  heads ;  but  in  most  cases  an 
embrocation  composed  of  equal  parts  of  laudanum,  olive  oil,  spirit 
of  turpentine,  and  hartshorn,  will  be  beneficial  if  applied  after  the 
first  active  inflammation  has  subsided. 

STRAIN  OF  THE  BACK  AND  LOINS. 

WHEN  A  YOUNG  HORSE  has  been  hunted  or  ridden  with  hounds 
over  any  kind  of  fence,  he  is  very  apt  to  over-exert  himself  in  his 
awkward  attempts  to  clear  the  obstacle,  and  next  day  he  will  often 
show  a  stiffness  of  the  loins  and  back,  which  is  seated  in  the  large 
muscles  connecting  the  pelvis  with  the  thorax.  He  is  said  to  have 
"ricked  his  back,"  in  the  language  of  the  stable,  and  if  the  mis- 
chief is  confined  to  the  muscles  alone,  he  may  generally  be  per- 
manently cured,  though  he  will  be  more  liable  to  a  return  than  an 
animal  which  has  never  suffered  from  any  accident  of  the  kind. 
If,  however,  the  spinal  cord  is  injured,  either  from  fracture  of  the 
vertebrae,  or  from  effusion  of  blood  or  serum  pressing  upon  it,  the 
case  is  different,  and  a  perfect  cure  is  seldom  obtained.  It  is, 
however,  very  difficult  to  form  a  correct  diagnosis  between  the  one 
case  and  the  other,  and  the  treatment  may  generally  be  conducted 
with  the  hope  that  the  more  important  organ  is  uninjured.  When 
there  is  complete  palsy  of  the  hind  extremities,  so  that  the  horse 
can  neither  feel  nor  use  them  in  the  slightest  degree,  the  case  is 
hopeless.  For  the  management  of  the  strain  of  the  loins,  a  full 
bleeding  should  be  adopted,  as  i  generally  happens  that  the  horse 


STRAINS.  317 

is  plethoric  and  full  of  corn.  Then  apply  a  doubk  fold  of  thick 
flannel  or  serge,  dipped  in  warm  water,  to  the  whole  Eurface  of  the 
loins,  cover  this  over  with  a  layer  of  indiarubber  sheeting,  and  let 
it  remain  on,  taking  care  to  renew  the  water  if  it  has  become  dry. 
It  generally  produces  a  copious  sweating  from  the  part,  followed 
by  a  slight  irritation  of  the  skin,  both  of  which  afford  relief.  In 
three  or  four  days  the  flannel  may  be  removed,  and  the  embroca- 
tion alluded  to  above  rubbed  in  two  or  three  times  a  day,  which 
will  generally  relieve  the  muscles  so  much  that  at  the  end  of  a 
week  or  ten  days  the  horse  is  able  to  move  quietly  about  in  a 
loose  box,  and  the  cure  may  be  left  to  time,  aided  by  a  charge  on 
the  back. 

STRAIN  OF  THE  SHOULDER. 

SHOULDER  STRAIN  was  formerly  very  often  chosen  as  the  seat 
of  lameness  in  the  fore  extremity,  solely  because  the  case  is  so  ob- 
scure that  it  is  beyond  the  knowledge  of  the  unskilful  examiner. 
Nevertheless,  it  is  by  no  means  so  uncommon  as  is  supposed  by 
some  writers,  and  perhaps  it  may  be  asserted  that  it  is  now  more 
frequently  passed  over  when  it  really  exists,  than  the  reverse.  It 
generally  is  seated  in  the  serratus  magnus,  or  pectoralis  transversus 
muscles,  but  it  may  also  occur  in  the  triceps,  or,  indeed,  in  almost 
any  of  the  muscles  around  the  shoulder  joint.  The  symptoms  are 
very  peculiar,  and  cannot  well  be  mistaken  by  a  careful  observer 
who  has  once  seen  a  case  of  shoulder  lameness.  In  all  other  kinds 
(except  the  knee),  the  limb  is  freely  moved  while  in  the  air,  and 
no  pain  is  expressed  until  the  foot  is  about  to  touch  the  ground; 
but  here  the  lameness  is  greatest  while  the  knee  is  being  protruded, 
and  the  limb  is  slung  forward  sideways,  in  a  circular  manner,  which 
gives  an  expression  of  great  imbecility.  It  also  occasions  great 
pain  when  the  foot  is  lifted  and  drawn  forward  by  the  hand,  just 
as  in  rheumatism  of  the  part  (already  described  at  page  312). 
When  the  serratus  magnus  has  been  strained  by  a  fall  from  a  drop 
leap,  or  the  pectoralis  transversus  by  a  slip,  causing  the  legs  to  be 
widely  separated,  there  is  often  great  obscurity  in  the  case ;  but 
the  history  of  the  accident  will  generally  assist  in  forming  a  cor- 
rect diagnosis.  The  treatment  in  the  early  stage  will  consist  in 
bleeding  from  the  plate  vein,  to  the  extent  of  five  or  six  quarts  of 
blood,  followed  by  fomentations  with  hot  water,  if  there  is  much 
heat  and  swelling,  and  giving  a  dose  of  physic  as  soon  as  the 
bowels  will  bear  it.  When  the  heat  has  disappeared,  or  at  once, 
if  there  is  none,  apply  the  embrocation  described  at  page  315 ;  and 
if  this  does  not  produce  relief,  add  to  it  one  quarter  of  its  bulk  of 
tincture  of  cantharides. 

STRAINS  OF  THE  KNEE. 

THE  KNEE,  unlike  its  analogue  in  the  human  subject  (the  vrist), 

.27* 


318  THE  HORSE. 

is  seldom  strained  in  the  horse,  in  consequence  of  the  strong  liga- 
ments which  bind  the  bones  of  the  carpus  together.  Still  it  some- 
times happens  that  the  internal  lateral  ligaments  are  overstretched, 
or,  in  calf-kneed  horses,  the  posterior  common  ligaments,  or  that 
connecting  the  scaphoid  with  the  pisiform  bone,  or  probably  all 
these  will  suffer  from  over-extension.  The  accident  may  be  re- 
cognised by  the  heat  and  swelling  of  the  part  affected,  as  well  as 
by  the  pain  given  on  using  the  joint.  The  anterior  ligaments  are 
seldom  strained,  but  are  liable  to  injury  from  blows  received  in 
various  ways.  The  treatment  should  be  conducted  on  the  same 
principles  as  those  of  strains  in  the  shoulder.  Cold  applications 
will  seldom  do  anything  but  harm  in  the  early  stage ;  but  after 
hot  fomentations  have  relieved  the  active  mischief,  by  encouraging 
the  effusion  of  serum  into  the  surrounding  cellular  membrane,  the 
former  may  be  used  with  advantage.  When  the  heat  and  other 
signs  of  active  inflammation  have  disappeared,  the  biniodide  of 
mercury  ointment  may  be  rubbed  in,  avoiding  the  back  of  the  joint. 

STRAIN  OF  THE  FETLOCK. 

THIS  ACCIDENT  shows  itself  at  once,  in  consequence  of  the  super- 
ficial nature  of  the  joint,  by  swelling,  heat,  soreness  to  the  touch, 
and  lameness.  It  may  be  very  slight  or  very  severe,  but  in  the 
latter  case  it  is  generally  complicated  by  strain  of  the  back  sinews, 
or  suspensory  ligament.  The  treatment  will  be  precisely  on  the 
same  plan  as  for  strain  of  the  knee.  When  the  anterior  ligaments 
of  the  fetlock  joint  are  strained  and  inflamed,  as  so  often  happens 
with  race-horses,  the  condition  is  known  as  ushin  sore." 

STRAIN  OF  THE  COFFIN  JOINT. 

DISSECTION  PROVES  that  this  joint  is  sometimes  the  seat  of 
strain ;  but  it  is  almost  impossible  to  ascertain  its  existence  with 
certainty  during  life.  The  diagnosis  is,  however,  not  of  much 
consequence,  as  the  treatment  will  be  the  same,  whether  the  coffin 
joint,  or  the  navicular  joint  is  the  seat  of  the  mischief.  In  any 
case,  if  severe,  bleeding  from  the  toe  should  be  had  recourse  to, 
folloved  by  cold  applications  around  the  coronet,  by  means  of  a 
strip  of  flannel  or  felt,  tied  loosely  around  the  pastern,  and  kept 
constantly  wet.  Whec  the  heat  has  subsided  the  coronet  should 
be  blistered. 

STRAIN  OF  THE  SUSPENSORY  LIGAMENTS. 

THE  SUSPENSORY  LIGAMENT  not  being  elastic  like  the  back 
sinews  (which,  though  not  in  themselves  extensible,  are  the  pro- 
longations of  muscles  which  have  that  property),  is  very  liable  to 
strains,  especially  in  th3  hunter,  and  to  a  less  degree  in  the  race- 
horse. The  accident  is  readily  made  out,  for  there  is  local  swelling 


STRAINS.  319 

and  tenderness,  and  in  the  well-bred  horse,  which  is  alone  likely 
to  meet  with  a  strain  of  this  kind,  the  leg  is  rarely  sufficiently 
gummy  to  prevent  the  finger  from  making  out  the  condition  of  the 
ligaments  and  tendons.  There  is  no  giving  away  of  the  joints  as 
in  "  break-down,"  but  on  the  contrary  the  leg  is  flexed,  and  if  the 
case  is  a  bad  one,  the  toe  only  is  allowed  to  touch  the  ground.  In 
ordinary  cases,  however,  there  is  merely  slight  swelling  of  the 
suspensory  ligament  in  a  limited  spot  usually  near  its  bifurcation, 
or  sometimes  in  one  division  only  close  above  the  sesamoid  bone  to 
which  it  is  attached.  The  horse  can  stand  readily  on  that  leg, 
but  on  being  trotted  he  limps  a  good  deal.  Sometimes,  however, 
there  is  a  swelling  of  the  feet  without  lameness,  but  in  this  case 
the  enlargement  is  generally  due  to  an  effusion  of  serum  into  the 
cellular  covering  of  the  ligament,  and  not  to  an  actual  strain  of  its 
fibres. — The  treatment  will  depend  greatly  upon  the  extent  of  the 
mischief;  if  there  is  no  great  injury  done,  and  the  enlargement 
is  chiefly  from  effusion  of  serum,  rest  and  cold  applications  by 
means  of  bandages  or  otherwise  will  in  the  course  of  two  or  three 
months  effect  a  cure.  Generally,  however,  the  case  will  last  six 
or  eight  months  before  the  ligament  recovers  its  tonej  and  in  a 
valuable  horse  no  attempt  should  be  made  to  work  him  before  that 
time.  Where  the  swelling  is  small,  as  it  generally  is,  bandages 
have  no  power  over  it,  as  the  projection  of  the  flexor  tendons  keeps 
the  pressure  off  the  injured  part.  Here,  dipping  the  leg  in  a 
bucket  of  water  every  hour  will  be  of  far  more  service  than  a 
bandage,  and  the  sudden  shock  of  the  cold  water  will  be  doubly 
efficacious.  After  all  heat  has  disappeared  the  biniodide  of 
mercury  may  be  used  as  a  blister  two  or  three  times,  and  then  the 
horse  may  either  be  turned  out,  or  put  into  a  loose  box  for  three 
or  four  months,  after  which  walking  exercise  will  complete  the 
cure. 

STRAIN  OF  THE  BACK  SINEWS. 

IN  THIS  ACCIDENT  the  position  of  the  leg  is  the  same  as  in 
strain  of  the  suspensory  ligament,  and  there  is  no  giving  way  of 
the  joints.  The  flexor  tendons  are  enlarged,  hot,  and  tender,  and 
there  is  great  lameness,  the  horse  having  the  power  to  flex  the  joints 
below  the  knee,  but  resolutely  objecting  to  extend  them,  by  bearing 
what  little  weight  is  unavoidable  upon  his  toe.  The  case  is  often 
confounded  with  a  "break-down,"  but  it  may  readily  be  distin- 
guished by  the  fact  that  in  the  latter  the  joints  give  way  on  putting 
the  weight  upon  them,  whilst  in  mere  strains  they  do  not,  and 
the  tendency  is  to  the  opposite  extreme.  Frequently  after  a  bad 
strain  of  the  flexor  tendons,  the  fetlock  is  "  over  shot,"  or  beyond 
the  upright,  in  consequence  of  the  continued  flexion  of  the  joint, 
to  prevent  pressure  upon  the  injured  fibres,  and  in  the  manage- 
ment this  result  should  be  carefully  guarded  against.  The  injury 


320  THE  HORSE. 

is  generally  confined  to  the  sheath  of  the  tendons,  which  in  most 
cases  gradually  puts  on  an  inflammatory  condition  for  some  time 
before  actual  lameness  is  observed.  In  bad  cases,  however,  the 
ligamentous  fibres  which  are  given  off  by  the  posterior  carpal 
ligament  to  the  flexor  tendons  are  ruptured,  greatly  increasing  the 
amount  of  inflammation  and  subsequent  loss  of  strength.  In  any 
case  the  tendon  feels  spongy,  and  slightly  enlarged,  and  there  is 
more  or  less  soreness  on  pressure  and  on  being  trotted,  but  in  the 
latter  case  exercise  removes  the  tenderness,  and  very  often  tempo- 
rarily causes  an  absorption  of  the  effused  fluid,  which  is  again 
deposited  during  rest.  This  state  of  things  goes  on  for  a  time,  the 
groom  doing  all  in  his  power  to  alleviate  it  by  wet  bandages,  &c., 
but  at  last  a  severe  race  or  gallop  brings  on  an  extra  amount  of 
inflammation,  with  or  without  actual  strain  of  the  fibres  of  the 
tendon,  and  then  there  can  be  no  doubt  about  the  propriety  of 
rest  and  severe  treatment.  It  often  happens  that  both  legs  are 
slightly  affected,  but  one  being  more  tender  than  the  other,  the 
horse  attempts  to  save  it  by  changing  legs,  the  consequence  of 
which  is  that  the  comparatively  sound  tendons  are  strained,  and 
he  returns  to  his  stable  with  both  legs  in  a  bad  state,  but  with  one 
of  them  requiring  immediate  attention. — The  treatment  should  be 
by  local  bleeding  (from  the  arm,  thigh,  or  toe),  followed  at  first  by 
warm  fomentations,  and  in  a  few  days  by  cold  lotions.  A  high- 
heeled  shoe  (called  a  patten)  should  be  put  on  the  foot,  so  as  to 
allow  the  horse  to  rest  part  of  the  weight  upon  the  heel  without 
distressing  the  tendon,  and  this  will  have  a  tendency  to  prevent 
him  from  over  shooting  at  the  fetlock  joint,  which  he  will  other- 
wise be  very  apt  to  do  from  constantly  balancing  his  leg  on  the  toe. 
After  three  or  four  days  the  hot  fomentations  will  have  done  what 
is  wanted,  and  a  cold  lotion  may  be  applied  by  means  of  a  loose 
linen  bandage.  The  best  is  composed  as  follows : — 

Take  of  Muriate  of  Ammonia 2  oz. 

Vinegar \  pint. 

Methylated  Spirit  of  Wine     .     .     .     .  £  pint. 

Water 2  quarts.     Mix. 

With  this  the  bandage  should  be  kept  constantly  wet,  the  applica- 
tion being  continued  for  a  fortnight  at  least,  during  which  time 
the  patient  must  be  kept  cool,  by  lowering  his  food,  and  giving 
him  a  dose  of  physic.  At  the  end  of  three  weeks  or  a  month 
from  the  accident,  the  leg  must  be  either  blistered  or  fired,  the 
choice  depending  upon  the  extent  of  injury,  and  the  desire  to  avoid 
a  blemish  if  such  a  feeling  exists.  The  former  is  the  more  efficci- 
cious  plan  no  doubt,  but  blistering  will  frequently  suffice  in  mild 
cases.  If,  however,  the  tendons  at  the  end  of  a  month  continue 
greatly  enlarged,  a  cure  can  hardly  be  expected  without  the  use  of 
the  "  irons." 


BREAKING  DOWN.  321 


BEEAKING  DOWN. 

GREAT  CONFUSION  exists  among  trainers  as  to  the  exact  nature 
of  this  accident,  which  is  considered  by  the  veterinary  surgeon  to 
consist  in  an  actual  rupture  of  the  suspensory  ligament  either 
above  or  below  the  sesamoid  bones,  which,  in  fact,  merely  separate 
this  apparatus  of  suspension  into  two  portions,  just  as  the  patella 
intervenes  between  the  rectus  femoris  and  the  tibia.  Whichever 
part  of  the  suspensory  apparatus  is  gone  (whether  the  superior  or 
inferior  sesamoidal  ligament  is  immaterial),  the  fetlock  and  pastern 
joints  lose  their  whole  inelastic  support ;  and  the  flexor  tendons, 
together  with  their  ligamentous  fibres  which  they  receive  from  the 
carpus,  giving  way,  as  they  must  do,  to  allow  of  the  accident 
taking  place,  the  toe  is  turned  up,  and  the  fetlock  joint  bears 
upon  the  ground.  This  is  a  complete  "  break  down  •"  but  there 
are  many  cases  in  which  the  destruction  of  the  ligamentous  fibres 
is  not  complete,  and  the  joint,  though  much  lowered,  does  not 
actually  touch  the  ground.  These  are  still  called  breaks  down, 
and  must  be  regarded  as  such,  and  as  quite  distinct  from  strains 
of  the  flexor  tendons.  The  accident  generally  occurs  in  a  tired 
horse,  when  the  flexor  muscles  do  not  continue  to  support  the  liga- 
ments, from  which  circumstance  it  so  often  happens  in  the  last 
few  strides  of  a  race.  The  symptoms  are  a  partial  or  entire  giving 
way  of  the  fetlock  joint  downwards,  so  that  the  back  of  it  either 
touches  the  ground,  or  nearly  so,  when  the  weight  is  thrown  upon 
it.  Usually,  however,  after  the  horse  is  pulled  up,  he  hops  on 
three  legs,  and  refuses  altogether  to  put  that  which  is  broken  down 
to  the  ground.  In  a  very  few  minutes  the  leg  "  fills"  at  the  seat 
of  the  accident,  and  becomes  hot  and  very  tender  to  the  touch. 
There  can,  therefore,  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  nature  of  the  mischief, 
and  the  confusion  to  which  allusion  has  been  made  is  one  of  names 
rather  than  of  facts.  Treatment  can  only  be  directed  to  a  partial 
recovery  from  this  accident,  for  a  horse  broken  down  in  the  sense 
in  which  the  term  is  here  used  can  only  be  used  for  stud  purposes 
or  at  slow  farm  work.  A  patten  shoe  should  at  once  be  put  on 
after  bleeding  at  the  toe  to  a  copious  extent,  and  then  fomenta- 
tions followed  by  cold  lotions  should  be  applied,  as  directed  in  the 
last  section.  As  there  must  necessarily  be  a  deformity  of  the  leg, 
there  can  be  no  objection  on  that  score  to  firing,  and  when  the 
severe  inflammation  following  the  accident  has  subsided  this  opera- 
tion should  be  thoroughly  performed,  so  as  to  afford  relief  not  only 
by  the  counter  irritation  which  is  set  up,  and  which  lasts  only  for 
a  time,  but  by  the  rigid  and  unyielding  case  which  it  leaves  behind 
for  a  series  of  years. 

x 


322  THE  HORSE. 


STRAINS  OF  THE  HIP  JOINT,  STIFLE,  AND  HOCK. 

THE  HIP  JOINT,  OR  ROUND  BONE,  is  liable  to  be  strained  by 
the  hind  feet  slipping  and  being  stretched  apart,  or  by  blows 
against  the  side  of  the  stall,  when  cast,  which  are  not  sufficient  to 
dislocate  the  femur,  but  strain  its  ligaments  severely.  The  conse« 
quence  is  an  inflammation  of  the  joint,  which  is  evidenced  by  a 
dropping  of  one  hip  in  going,  the  weight  being  thrown  more  upon 
the  sound  side  than  upon  the  other.  This  is  especially  remarkable 
on  first  starting,  the  lameness  soon  going  off  in  work,  but  return- 
ing after  rest.  The  case,  however,  is  a  rare  one,  and  its  descrip- 
tion need  not,  therefore,  occupy  much  of  our  space.  When  it  does 
happen,  it  is  very  apt  to  lead  to  a  wasting  of  the  deep  muscles  of 
the  haunch,  which  nothing  but  compulsory  work  will  restore  to  a 
healthy  condition.  The  only  treatment  necessary  in  the  early 
stage  of  strain  of  the  hip  joint  is  rest  and  cooling  diet,  &c. ;  but, 
after  six  weeks  or  two  months,  a  gradual  return  to  work  is  indis- 
pensable to  effect  a  cure. 

STRAINS  OF  THE  STIFLE,  independently  of  blows,  are  rare ;  but 
the  latter  often  are  inflicted  upon  this  joint  in  hunting,  leaving 
little  evidence  externally,  so  that  it  is  almost  always  doubtful 
whether  the  injury  is  the  result  of  a  blow  or  strain.  The  symptoms 
are  a  swelling  and  tenderness  of  the  joint,  which  can  be  ascer- 
tained by  a  careful  examination  ;  and  on  trotting  the  horse,  there 
is  manifested  a  difficulty  or  stiffness  in  drawing  forward  the  hind 
leg  under  the  belly.  The  treatment  must  be  by  bleeding  and 
physicking  in  the  early  stage,  together  with  hot  fomentations  to  the 
part,  continued  every  hour  until  the  heat  subsides.  After  a  few 
days,  if  the  joint  is  still  painful,  a  large  blister  should  be  applied, 
or,  what  is  still  better,  a.  seton  should  be  inserted  in  the  skin 
adjacent. 

THE  HOCK  ITSELF  is  liable  to  strain,  independently  of  the  pecu- 
liar accident  known  as  "  curb."  When  it  occurs,  there  is  some 
heat  of  the  part,  with  more  or  less  lameness,  and  neither  spavin, 
thoroughpin,  nor  curb  to  account  for  them.  The  injury  is  seldom 
severe,  and  may  be  relieved  by  fomentations  for  a  day  or  two, 
followed  by  cold  lotions,  as  presented  at  page  320,  for  strain  of  the 
back  sinews. 

CURB. 

THE   LOWER  PART  OF  THE  POSTERIOR  SURFACE  of  the  OS  Calcis 

is  firmly  united  to  the  cuboid  and  external  metatarsal  bone  by  two 
strong  ligamentous  bands,  called  the  calcaneo-cuboid  and  calcaneo- 
metatarsal  ligaments.  The  centre  of  these  ligaments  is  about 
seven  or  eight  inches  below  the  point  of  the  hock,  and  when  a  soft 
but  elastic  swelling  suddenly  makes  its  appearance  there,  it  may 


CURB.  323 

with  certainty  be  asserted  that  a  "  curb"  has  been  thrown  out.  The 
accident  occurs  somewhat  suddenly ;  but  the  swelling  and  inflam- 
mation do  not  always  show  themselves  until  after  a  night's  rest, 
when  the  part  is  generally  enlarged,  hot,  and  tender.  The  precise 
extent  of  the  strain  is  of  little  consequence;  for  whatever  its 
nature,  the  treatment  should  be  sufficiently  active  to  reduce  the 
ligaments  to  their  healthy  condition.  Some  horses  have  naturally  the 
head  of  the  external  small  metatarsal  bone  unusually  large,  and 
the-hock  so  formed  that  there  is  an  angle  between  the  large  meta- 
tarsal bone  and  the  tarsus,  leaving  a  prominence,  which,  however, 
is  hard  and  bony,  and  not  soft  and  elastic,  as  is  the  case  with  curb. 
Such  hocks  are  generally  inclined  to  throw  out  curbs;  but  there 
are  many  exceptions,  and  some  of  the  most  suspicious-looking 
joints  have  been  known  to  stand  sound  for  years.  Curbs  are  seldom 
thrown  out  by  very  old  horses,  and  usually  occur  between  the  com- 
mencement of  breaking-in  and  the  seventh  or  eighth  year,  though 
they  are  not  unfrequently  met  with  in  the  younger  colt,  being  occa- 
sioned by  his  gambols  over  hilly  ground.  The  treatment  should 
at  first  be  studiously  confined  to  a  reduction  of  the  inflammation ; 
any  attempt  to  procure  absorption  till  this  is  effected  being  inju- 
rious in  the  extreme.  If  there  is  much  heat  in  the  part,  blood 
may  be  taken  from  the  thigh  vein,  the  corn  should  be  removed, 
and  a  dose  of  physic  given  as  soon  as  practicable.  The  curb 
should  then  be  kept  wet  (by  means  of  a  bandage  lightly  applied) 
with  the  lotion  recommended  at  page  316  for  capped  hocks,  and 
this  should  be  continued  until  the  inflammation  is  entirely  gone. 
During  this  treatment,  in  bad  cases,  a  patten  shoe  should  be  kept 
on,  so  as  to  keep  the  hock  as  straight  as  possible,  and  thus  take 
the  strain  off  the  ligaments  which  are  affected.  After  the  part 
has  become  cool,,  it  may  be  reduced  in  size,  by  causing  absorption 
to  be  set  up ;  which  is  best  effected  by  the  application  of  mercury 
and  iodine  (both  of  which  possess  that  power),  in  such  a  shape  as 
to  cause  a  blister  of  the  skin.  The  biniodide  of  mercury  has  this 
double  advantage,  and  there  is  no  application  known  to  surgery 
which  will  act  equally  well  in  effecting  the  absorption  of  a  curb. 
It  should  be  applied  in  the  mode  recommended  at  page  300,  and 
again  rubbed  on  at  an  interval  of  about  a  week,  for  three  or  four 
times  in  succession,  when  it  will  generally  be  found  that  the  ab- 
sorption of  the  unnatural  swelling  is  effected ;  but  the  ligaments 
remain  as  weak  as  before,  and  nothing  but  exercise  (not  too  severe, 
or  it  will  inflame  them  again)  will  strengthen  them  sufficiently  to 
prevent  a  return.  Friction  with  the  hand,  aided  by  a  slightly 
stimulating  oil  (such  as  neat's-foot  and  turpentine  mixed,  or  neat's- 
foot  and  oil  of  origanum,  or,  in  fact,  any  stimulating  essential  oil), 
will  tend  to  strengthen  the  ligaments,  by  exciting  their  vessels  to 
throw  out  additional  fibres ;  and  in  course  of  time  a  curb  may  be 


324  THE  HORSE. 

considered  to  be  sufficiently  restored  to  render  it  tolerably  safe  to 
use  the  horse  again  in  the  same  way  which  originally  produced  it. 

DISLOCATION. 

BY  DISLOCATION  is  meant  the  forcible  removal  of  the  end  of  a 
bone  from  the  articulating  surface  which  it  naturally  occupies. 
In  the  horse,  from  the  strength  of  his  ligaments,  the  accident  is 
not  common ;  those  that  do  occur  being  chiefly  in  the  hip  joint, 
and  in  that  between  the  patella  and  the  end  of  the  femur. 

DISLOCATION  or  THE  HIP  JOINT  is  known  by  the  rigidity  of 
the  hind  leg,  which  cannot  be  moved  in  any  direction,  and  is 
carried  by  the  horse  when  he  is  compelled  to  attempt  to  alter  his 
position.  There  is  a  flatness  of  the  haunch  below  the  hip,  but 
the  crest  of  the  ilium  is  still  there,  and  by  this  the  accident 
may  be  diagnosed  from  fracture  of  that  part.  No  treatment  is  of 
the  slightest  avail,  as  the  part  cannot  be  reduced,  and  the  horse 
is  useless  except  for  stud  purposes.  The  accident  is  not  very 
common. 

DISLOCATION  OF  THE  PATELLA  sometimes  becomes  habitual, 
occurring  repeatedly  in  the  same  horse,  apparently  from  a  spas- 
modic contraction  of  the  external  vastus  muscle,  which  draws  the 
patella  outwards,  and  out  of  the  trochlea  formed  for  it  in  the 
lower  head  of  the  femur.  When  the  cramp  goes  off,  the  patella 
drops  into  its  place  again  as  soon  as  the  horse  moves,  and  no 
treatment  is  required.  Occasionally,  however,  the  dislocation  is 
more  complete,  and  nothing  but  manual  dexterity  will  replace  the 
bone  in  its  proper  situation.  Great  pain  and  uneasiness  are 
expressed,  and  the  operator  must  encircle  the  haunch  with  his 
arms  and  lay  hold  of  the  patella  with  both  hands,  while  an  assist- 
ant drags  forward  the  toe,  and  thus  relaxes  the  muscles  which  are 
inserted  in  it.  By  forcibly  driving  the  patella  into  its  place  it 
may  be  lifted  over  the  ridge  which  it  has  passed,  and  a  snap 
announces  the  reduction. 

WOUNDS  OF  JOINTS. 

THE  KNEE  is  the  joint  most  frequently  suffering  from  wound, 
being  liable  to  be  cut  by  a  fall  upon  it,  if  the  ground  is  rough ; 
and  if  the  accident  takes  place  when  the  horse  is  going  at  a  rapid 
pace,  the  skin,  ligaments,  and  tendons  may  be  worn  through  by 
friction  against  the  plain  surface  of  a  smooth  turnpike  road. 
Whether  the  joint  itself  is  injured,  or  only  the  skin,  the  accident 
is  called  a  "  broken  knee,"  and  for  convenience  sake  it  will  be 
well  to  consider  both  under  the  present  head. 

WHEN  A  BROKEN  KNEE  consists  merely  in  an  abrasion  of  the 
skin,  the  attention  of  the  groom  is  solely  directed  to  the  restora- 
tion of  the  hair,  which  will  grow  again  as  well  as  ever,  if  the 


WOUNDS  OF  JOINTS.  325 

bulbs  or  roots  are  not  injured.  These  are  situated  in  the  internal 
layer  of  the  true  skin,  and  therefore,  whenever  there  is  a  smooth 
red  surface  displayed,  without  any  difference  in  the  texture  of  its 
parts,  a  confident  hope  may  be  expressed  that  there  will  be  no 
blemish.  If  the  skin  is  penetrated,  either  the  glistening  surface 
of  the  tendons  or  ligaments  is  apparent,  or  there  is  a  soft  layer  of 
cellular  membrane,  generally  containing  a  fatty  cell  or  two  in  the 
middle  of  the  wound  of  the  skin.  Even  here,  by  proper  treat- 
ment, the  injury  may  be  repaired  so  fully,  that  the  space  uncovered 
by  hair  cannot  be  recognised  by  the  ordinary  observer,  and  not 
by  any  one  without  bending  the  knee  and  looking  very  carefully 
at  it.  The  best  treatment  is  to  foment  the  knee  well  with  warm 
water,  so  as  to  remove  every  particle  of  grit  or  dirt ;  go  on  with 
this  every  hour  during  the  first  day,  and  at  night  apply  a  bran 
poultice  to  the  knee,  which  should  be  left  on  till  the  next  morn- 
ing. Then  cleanse  the  wound,  and  apply  a  little  spermaceti  oint- 
ment, or  lard  without  salt,  and  with  this  keep  the  wound  pliant 
until  it  heals,  which  if  slight  it  will  in  a  few  days.  If  the  skin  is 
pierced  there  will  generally  be  a  growth  above  it  of  red  flaboy 
granulations,  which  should  be  carefully  kept  down  to  its  own 
level  (not  beneath  it),  by  the  daily  use  of  blue  stone,  or  if  neces- 
sary of  nitrate  of  silver.  As  soon  as  the  wound  is  perfectly 
healed,  if  the  horse  can  be  spared,  the  whole  front  of  the  knee 
and  skin  should  be  dressed  with  James'  blister,  which  will  bring 
off  the  hair  of  the  adjacent  parts,  and  also  encourage  the  growth 
of  that  injured  by  the  fall.  In  about  three  weeks  or  a  month 
from  its  application,  the  leg  will  pass  muster,  for  there  will  be  no 
difference  in  the  color  of  the  old  and  new  hair  as  there  would 
have  been  without  the  blister,  and  the  new  will  also  have  come 
on  more  quickly  and  perfectly  than  it  otherwise  would. 

WHEN  THE  JOINT  ITSELF  is  opened  the  case  is  much  more 
serious,  and  there  is  a  risk  not  only  of  a  serious  blemish,  which 
can  seldom  be  avoided,  but  of  a  permanent  stiffness  of  the  leg,  the 
mischief  sometimes  being  sufficient  to  lead  to  constitutional  fever, 
and  the  local  inflammation  going  on  to  the  destruction  of  the  joint 
by  anchylosis.  The  treatment  should  be  directed  to  cleanse  and 
then  close  the  joint,  the  former  object  being  carried  out  by  a 
careful  ablution  with  warm  water,  continued  until  there  is  no 
doubt  of  all  the  dirt  and  grit  having  been  removed.  Then,  if 
there  is  only  a  very  small  opening  in  the  capsular  ligament,  it 
may  be  closed  by  a  careful  and  light  touch  of  a  pointed  iron 
heated  to  a  red  heat.  Generally,  however,  it  is  better  to  apply 
some  dry  carded  cotton  to  the  wound,  and  a  bandage  over  this," 
leaving  all  on  for  four  or  five  days,  when  it  may  be  removed  and 
reapplied.  The  horse  should  be  bled  largely  and  physicked,  taking 
care  to  prevent  all  chance  of  his  lying  down  by  racking  him  up. 
28 


326  THE  HORSE. 

He  will  seldom  attempt  to  do  this,  on  account  of  the  pain  occa- 
sioned in  bending  the  knee,  but  some  animals  will  disregard  this 
when  tired,  and  will  go  down  somehow.  When  the  cotton  is 
reapplied,  if  there  are  granulations  above  the  level  of  the  skin, 
they  must  be  kept  down  as  recommended  in  the  last  paragraph, 
and  the  subsequent  treatment  by  blister  may  be  exactly  the  same. 
By  these  means  a  very  extensive  wound  of  the  knee  may  be  often 
speedily  cured,  and  the  blemish  will  be  comparatively  trifling. 

THE  KNEE  is  SOMETIMES  punctured  by  a  thorn  in  hunting, 
causing  great  pain  and  lameness.  If  it  can  be  felt  externally,  it 
is  well  to  cut  down  upon  it  and  remove  it ;  but  groping  in  the  dark 
with  the  knife  among  important  tendons  in  front  of  the  knee  is 
not  on  any  account  to  be  attempted.  The  knee  should  be  well 
fomented,  five  or  six  times  a  day,  until  the  swelling,  if  there  is 
any,  subsides,  and,  in  process  of  time,  the  thorn  will  either  show 
its  base,  or  it  will  gradually  free  itself  from  its  attachments  and  lie 
beneath  the  skin,  from  which  position  it  may  be  safely  extracted 
with  the  knife. 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

DISEASES    OF    THE    THORACIC    ORGANS   AND    THEIR   APPENDAGES. 

General  Remarks — Catarrh — Influenza  or  Distemper — Bronchitis 
—  Chronic  Cough — Laryngitis — Roaring,  Whistling,  Etc. — 
Pneumonia  and  Congestion  of  the  Lungs — Pleurisy — Pleuro- 
dynia — Phthisis — Broken  Wind — Thick  Wind — Spasm  oj  the 
Diaphragm — Diseases  of  the  Heart — Diseases  of  the  Blood  Ves- 
sels in  the  Chest  and  Nose. 

GENERAL  REMARKS. 

THE  IMPORTANCE  OF  SOUNDNESS  in  the  respiratory  apparatus 
is  so  fully  recognised,  that  in  common  parlance  it  is  put  before  the 
organs  of  locomotion,  a  popular  expression  being  "sound,  wind  and 
limb."  It  is  true  that  good  wind  is  useless  without  legs;  but  the 
diseases  of  the  latter  are  known  to  be  more  under  control  than 
those  of  the  chest,  and  hence  it  is,  perhaps,  that  the  wind  is  so 
carefully  scrutinized  by  all  purchasers  of  horses.  There  is,  also, 
much  greater  difficulty  in  ascertaining  the  condition  of  the  lungs 
and  their  appendages,  and  the  ordinary  observer  can  only  judge 
of  them  by  an  absolute  trial ;  while  the  state  of  the  legs  may  be 
seen  and  felt,  and  that  of  the  feet  can  be  tolerably  well  ascertained 
by  a  very  short  run  upon  hard  ground.  So,  also,  with  the  acute 
diseases  of  these  parts;  while  the  legs  and  feet  manifest  the 


CATARRH.  327 

slightest  inflammation  going  on  in  them  by  swelling  and  heat,  the 
air-passages  may  be  undergoing  slow  but  sure  destruction,  without 
giving  out  any  sign  that  can  be  detected  by  any  one  but  the  prac- 
tised veterinarian.  In  most  of  the  diseases  of  the  chest  there  is 
disturbance  of  the  breathing,  even  during  a  state  of  rest ;  but  in 
some  of  them,  as  in  roaring,  for  instance,  no  such  evidence  is 
afforded,  and  the  disease  can  only  be  detected  by  an  examination 
during,  or  immediately  after,  a  severe  gallop. 

CATAERH,  OR  COLD. 

CATARRH  may  be  considered  under  two  points  of  view ;  either 
as  an  inflammation  of  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  nasal  cavities, 
accompanied  by  slight  general  fever ;  or  as  an  ephemeral  fever  of 
three  or  four  days  duration,  complicated  with  this  condition  of  the 
nose.  The  latter  is,  perhaps,  the  more  scientific  definition,  but 
for  common  purposes  it  is  more  convenient  to  consider  it  as  mainly 
consisting  in  the  most  prominent  symptom.  There  is  invariably 
some  degree  of  feverishness,  sometimes  very  considerable,  at  others 
so  slight  as  to  be  easily  passed  over.  Usually  the  pulse  is  accele- 
rated to  about  forty  or  fifty,  the  appetite  is  impaired,  and  there  is 
often  sore  throat,  with  more  or  less  cough.  On  examining  the 
interior  of  the  nostrils,  they  are  more  red  than  natural,  at  first  dry 
and  swollen,  then  bedewed  with  a  watery  discharge  which  soon 
becomes  yellow,  thick,  and,  in  bad  cases,  purulent.  The  eyes  are 
generally  involved,  their  conjunctival  coat  being  injected  with 
blood,  and  often  some  slight  weeping  takes  place,  but  there  is 
always  an  expression  of  sleepiness  or  dulness,  partly  owing  to  the 
local  condition  of  the  organ,  and  partly  to  the  general  impairment 
of  the  health.  The  disease  is  caused  in  most  instances  by  a  chill, 
either  in  the  stable  or  out,  but  sometimes,  even  in  the  mildest  form, 
it  appears  to  be  epidemic.  The  treatment  will  greatly  depend  upon 
the  severity  of  the  seizure ;  usually,  a  bran-mash  containing  from 
six  drachms  to  one  ounce  of  powdered  nitre  in  it,  at  night,  for  two 
or  three  consecutive  periods,  will  suffice,  together  with  the  abstrac- 
tion of  corn,  and,  if  the  bowels  are  confined,  a  mild  dose  of  physic 
should  be  given.  In  more  severe  cases,  when  there  is  cough  and 
considerable  feverishness,  a  ball  composed  of  the  following  ingre- 
dients may  be  given  every  night : — 

Take  of  Nitrate  of  Potass 2    drachma. 

Tartarized  Antimony 1    drachm. 

Powdered  Digitalis £  drachm. 

Camphor l|  drachm. 

Linseed  meal  and  boiling  water  enough  to  make  into  a  ball. 

If  the  throat  is  sore,  an  embrocation  of  equal  parts  of  oil,  tur- 
pentine, tincture  of  cantharides,  and  hartshorn,  may  be  rubbed  in 
night  and  morning. 


328  THE  HORSE. 

Should  the  disease  extend  to  the  bronchial  tubes,  or  substance 
of  the  lungs,  the  treatment  for  bronchitis  or  pneumonia  must  be 
adopted. 

The  stable  should  be  kept  cool,  taking  care  to  make  up  for  the 
difference  in  temperature  by  putting  on  an  extra  rug;  water  should 
be  allowed  ad  libitum,  and  no  corn  should  be  given. 

Sometimes  the  discharge  becomes  chronic,  and  it  is  then  known 
by  the  name  ozena. 

INFLUENZA,   OR   DISTEMPER.* 

THIS  MAY  BE  CONSIDERED  TO  BE  an  epidemic  catarrh,  but  the 
symptoms  are  generally  more  severe  and  leave  greater  prostration 
of  strength  behind  them.  They  also  require  more  careful  treat- 
ment, which  must  be  specially  adapted  to  the  attack,  for  remedies 
which  will  arrest  the  disease  in  one  year  will  totally  fail  the  next 
time  that  the  epidemic  prevails.  The  fever  of  late  years  has  had 
a  tendency  to  put  on  the  typhoid  type,  and  bleeding,  which  for- 
merly was  often  beneficial,  is  now  completely  forbidden.  The  symp- 
toms are  at  first  similar  to  those  already  described  as  pertaining  to 
common  catarrh,  but  after  a  fear  days  the  accompanying  fever  is 
more  severe  than  usual,  and  does  not  abate  at  the  customary  period. 
The  appetite  is  altogether  lost,  and  the  appearance  of  the  patient 
is  characteristic  of  severe  disease  rather  than  of  a  trifling  cold.  It 
is,  however,  chiefly  from  the  fact  that  a  number  of  horses  are  seized 
with  similar  symptoms,  either  at  the  same  time  or  rapidly  follow- 
ing one  another,  that  the  disease  is  recognised.  It  usually  prevails 
in  the  spring  of  the  year,  or  in  a  wet  and  unhealthy  autumn. 
Sometimes  almost  every  case  runs  on  to  pneumonia,  at  others  the 
bronchial  mucous  membrane  alone  is  attacked ;  but  in  all  there  is 
extreme  debility  in  proportion  to  the  apparent  nature  of  the  disease. 
The  ordinary  appearances  exhibited  in  recent  epidemics  have  been 
as  follows : — The  first  thing  observed  is  a  general  slight  shivering, 
accompanied  by  a  staring  coat.  The  pulse  is  weak,  and  slightly 
accelerated,  but  not  to  any  great  extent;  the  mouth  feels  hot;  the 
eyes  and  the,nostrils  are  red ;  the  belly  is  tucked  up ;  there  is  no 
appetite;  cough,  to  a  varying  extent,  begins  to  show  itself;  and 
there  is  generally  a  heaving  of  the  flanks.  The  legs  and  feet  are 
not  cold  as  in  pneumonia,  but  beyond  this  they  afford  no  positive 
signs.  The  cellular  membrane  around  the  eyes,  and  of  the  legs, 
generally  swells  about  the  second  day,  and  often  the  head  and 
limbs  become  quite  shapeless  from  this  cause.  In  the  early  stage 
the  bowels  are  often  relaxed,  but  afterwards  they  are  as  frequently 
confined.  Sore  throat  is  a  very  common  complication,  but  it  is  not 
by  any  means  an  invariable  attendant  on  influenza.  It  is,  however, 

*  CHOKING  DISTEMPER — so  called— will  be  found  treated  of  under  the 
name  of  Typhoid  Fever  in  note  to  chapter  on  fevers. — EDITOR. 


INFLUENZA— BRONCHITIS.  329 

somewhat  difficult  to  ascertain  its  existence,  as  in  any  case  there 
is  no  appetite  for  food.  The  treatment  should  be  conducted  on  the 
principle  of  husbanding  the  strength,  and,  unless  urgent  symptoms 
of  inflammation  show  themselves,  the  less  that  is  done  the  better. 
If  the  trachea  or  larynx  is  involved  only  slightly,  counter  irrita- 
tion, by  means  of  a  liquid  blister,  must  be  tried,  without  resorting 
to  strong  internal  medicines ;  but  if  serious  mischief  ensues,  the 
case  must,  to  a  certain  extent,  be  treated  as  it  would  be  when 
coming  on  without  the  complication  of  influenza,  always  taking 
care  to  avoid  bleeding,  and  merely  acting  on  the  bowels  by  gentle 
aperients,  and  on  the  skin  and  kidneys  by  the  mildest  diaphoretic  and 
diuretic.  The  following  is  the  ordinary  plan  of  treatment  adopted  : 

Take  of  Spirit  of  Nitric  Ether 1  ounce. 

Laudanum 4  drachms. 

Nitrate  of  Potass 3  drachms. 

Water         1  pint. 

Mix,  and  give  as  a  drench  night  and  morning. 

By  constantly  offering  to  the  horse  thin  gruel  (taking  care  that 
it  does  not  become  sour),  and  no  plain  water,  sufficient  nourish- 
ment may  be  given,  as  his  thirst  will  induce  him  to  drink. 

During  the  stage  of  convalescence  the  greatest  care  must  be 
taken.  At  first,  as  soon  as  the  cough  has  somewhat  subsided,  a 
mild  stomachic  ball  will  be  desirable,  such  as 

Take  of  Extract  of  Gentian 6  drachms. 

Powdered  Ginger 2  drachms.     Mix. 

Afterwards,  if  the  case  goes  on  favorably,  and  the  appetite  returns, 
the  restoration  may  be  left  to  nature,  giving  the  horse  by  degrees 
his  usual  allowance  of  corn,  and  adding  to  his  morning  and  evening 
feed  one  drachm  of  sulphate  of  iron  in  fine  powder.  It  must  not  be 
attempted  to  give  this  until  the  appetite  is  pretty  keen,  or  the  horse 
will  be  disgusted,  and  will  probably  refuse  his  corn  altogether. 

Should  typhoid  symptoms  be  clearly  established,  the  case  must 
be  treated  according  to  the  directions  hereafter  laid  down  for 
typhus  fever. 

BRONCHITIS. 

BRONCHITIS  is  an  inflammation  of  the  mucous  membrane  lining 
the  bronchi,  and  almost  invariably  extending  to  these  parts  through 
the  trachea,  from  the  larynx  and  nasal  passages,  which  are  pri- 
marily affected  as  in  ordinary  cold.  The  membrane  in  the  early 
stage  becomes  filled  with  blood,  and  as  a  consequence  the  diameter 
of  the  tubes  is  diminished,  attended  by  some  difficulty  and  in- 
creased rapidity  of  breathing.  After  a  time  a  frothy  mucus  is 
poured  out  from  it,  and  this  still  further  interferes  with  respira- 
tion, and  necessitates  a  constant  cough  to  get  rid  of  it.  These 
symptoms  are  always  present,  but  they  will  vary  greatly  in  inten- 
28* 


330  THE  HORSE. 

sity,  and  in  the  rapidity  with  which  they  progress,  from  which  cir- 
cumstances bronchitis  is  said  to  be  acute  or  chronic,  as  the  case 
may  be.  In  the  acute  form  there  are  also  several  variations,  and 
veterinary  writers  are  in  the  habit  of  again  subdividing  it  into 
acute  and  sub-acute,  but  the  two  leading  divisions  are  sufficient 
for  all  practical  purposes.  It  begins  with  the  usual  premonitory 
appearances  of  a  severe  cold,  accompanied  by  a  staring  coat,  and 
entire  loss  of  appetite.  The  breathing  is  somewhat  quicker  than 
natural,  and  the  pulse  is  raised  to  sixty  or  seventy.  The  legs  re- 
main of  the  usual  temperature,  and  there  is  a  hard  dry  cough,  the 
lining  membrane  of  the  nostrils  being  intensely  red,  and  in  severe 
cases  dry  and  swollen.  On  auscultation  there  is  a  dry  rattling 
sound,  very  different  from  the  crepitation  of  pneumonia,  and  as 
soon  as  mucus  is  secreted,  succeeded  by  gurgling,  and  soap-bubble 
sounds,  easily  distinguished  when  once  heard.  If  the  attack  goes 
on  favorably,  the  cough  becomes  loose,  and  there  is  a  free  dis- 
charge of  mucus,  both  from  the  lungs,  as  evidenced  from  the 
nature  of  the  cough,  and  from  the  nostrils,  as  shown  by  the  run- 
ning from  them.  jOn  the  other  hand,  the  prognosis  is  unfavorable 
when  the  breathing  is  very  laborious,  with  the  legs  extended,  and 
the  cough  constant  and  ineffectual  in  affording  relief.  Should  no 
relief  be  afforded,  death  takes  place  a  week  or  ten  days  after  the 
onset  of  the  disease,  from  suffocation.  The  treatment  should  de- 
pend greatly  upon  the  urgency  of  the  inflammation,  which  only  an 
experienced  eye  can  judge  of.  If  slight,  nitre  and  tartar  emetic 
internally,  and  a  blister  (to  one  or  both  sides,  according  to  the 
extent  of  bronchi  involved),  will  suffice,  but  in  very  severe  cases 
blood  must  be  taken  at  the  onset,  or  it  will  be  impossible  to  control 
the  inflammation.  Bleeding  should  be  avoided  if  it  is  judged 
prudent  to  do  so,  for  of  late  years  the  type  of  diseases  has  changed 
so  much  in  the  horse,  that  he  is  found  to  bear  loss  of  blood  badly. 
Nevertheless,  it  is  not  wise  to  lay  down  the  rule  that  it  is  never 
desirable.  The  bowels  must  be  acted  on  by  the  ordinary  physic 
ball,  resorting  to  raking  and  clysters,  if  the  time  cannot  be  afforded 
for  the  usual  laxative  preparation.  For  the  special  control  of  the 
morbid  state  of  the  membrane  the  following  ball  will  be  found 
advantageous : — 

Take  of  Digitalis       .     .     „•    . £  drachm. 

Calomel        ^  drachm. 

Tartar  Emetic 60  to  80  grains. 

Nitre 2  drachms. 

Mix  with  treacle,  and  give  twice  a  day. 

Should  the  disease  continue  after  the  blister  is  healed,  a  large  seton 
may  be  put  in  one  or  both  sides  with  advantage. 

CHRONIC  BRONCHITIS  seldom  exists  except  as  a  sequel  to  the 
acute  form,  and  after  adopting  the  balls  recommended  for  that 


CHRONIC  COUGH.  331 

state,  it  may  be  treated  by  attention  to  the  general  health,  a  seton 
in  the  side,  and  the  exhibition  of  an  expectorant  ball  twice  a  day, 
composed  of  the  following  materials  : — 

Take  of  Gum  Ammoniacum        |  ounce. 

Powdered  Squill       . 1  drachm. 

Castile  Soap «...  2  drachms. 

Mix  and  make  into  a  ball. 

CHRONIC  COUGH. 

BY  THIS  TERM  is  understood  a  cough  that  comes  on  without 
any  fever  or  evidences  of  the  horse  having  taken  cold.  It  differs 
in  this  respect  from  chronic  bronchitis,  which  generally  supervenes 
upon  the  acute  form,  and  is  always  attended  in  the  early  stage  by 
feverishness.  It  appears  probable  that  chronic  cough  is  dependent 
upon  an  unnatural  stimulus  to  the  mucous  membrane,  for  it  almost 
always  makes  its  appearance  when  much  corn  is  given  without  due 
preparation,  and  ceases  on  a  return  to  green  food.  It  is,  therefore, 
very  commonly  termed  a  stomach  cough.  The  symptoms  are  all 
summed  up  \n  the  presence  of  a  dry  cough,  which  is  seldom  mani- 
fested while  in  the  stable,  but  comes  on  whenever  the  breathing  is 
hastened  by  any  pace  beyond  a  walk.  Two  or  three  coughs  are 
then  given,  and  the  horse  perhaps  is  able  to  go  on  with  his  work, 
but  after  resting  for  a  few  minutes,  and  again  starting,  it  comes  on 
again,  and  annoys  the  rider  or  driver  by  its  tantalizing  promise  of 
disappearance  followed  by  disappointment.  Very  often  this  kind 
of  cough  is  caused  by  the  irritation  of  worms,  but  any  kind  of  dis- 
order of  the  digestive  organs  appears  to  have  the  power  of  pro- 
ducing it.  The  usual  treatment  for  chronic  bronchitis  seems  here 
to  be  quite  powerless,  and  the  only  plan  of  proceeding  likely  to  be 
attended  with  success,  is  to  look  for  the  cause  of  the  irritation,  and 
remove  it.  Sometimes  this  will  be  found  in  a  hot  stable,  the  horse 
having  previously  been  accustomed  to  a  cool  one.  Here  the  altera- 
tion of  the  temperature  by  ten  or  fifteen  degrees  will  in  a  few  days 
effect  a  cure,  and  nothing  else  is  required.  Again,  it  may  be  that 
the  corn  has  been  overdone,  in  which  case  a  gentle  dose  of  physic, 
followed  by  a  diminished  allowance  of  corn,  and  a  bran-mash  twice 
a  week,  will  be  successful.  If  the  stomach  is  much  disordered, 
green  food  will  be  the'  best  stimulus  to  a  healthy  condition,  or  in 
its  absence  a  few  warm  cordial  balls  may  be  tried.  The  existence 
of  worms  should  be  ascertained  in  doubtful  cases,  and  if  they  are 
present,  the  proper  remedies  must  be  given  for  their  removal. 
Linseed  oil  and  spirit  of  turpentine,  which  are  both  excellent  worm 
remedies,  are  highly  recommended  in  chronic  cough,  and  whether 
or  not  their  good  effect  is  due  to  their  antagonism  to  worms,  they 
may  be  regarded  as  specially  useful. 

A  very  successful  combination  is  the  following  mixture  : — 


332  THE  HORSE. 

Take  of  Spirit  of  Turpentine     ....  2  ounces. 

Mucilage  of  Acacia      ....  6  ounces. 

Gum  Ammoniacura      .     .     .     .  £  ounce. 

Laudanum 4  ounces. 

Water 2  quarts. 

Mix,  and  give  half-a-pint  as  a  drench  every  night :  the  bottle  must  be 
well  shaken  before  pouring  out  the  dose. 

LARYNGITIS,  ROARING,  WHISTLING,  &c. 

ONE  OF  THE  MOST  COMMON  diseases  among  well-bred  horses  of 
the  present  day,  is  the  existence  of  some  mechanical  impediment 
to  the  passage  of  the  air  into  the  lungs,  causing  the  animal  to 
"  make  a  noise."  The  exact  nature  of  the  sound  has  little  or  no 
practical  bearing  on  the  cause  that  produces  it ;  that  is  to  say,  it 
cannot  be  predicated  that  roaring  is  produced  by  laryngitis ;  nor 
that  whistling  is  the  result  of  a  palsy  of  some  particular  muscle, 
but  undoubtedly  it  may  safely  be  asserted  that  all  lesions  of  the 
larynx,  by  which  the  shape  and  area  of  its  opening  (rima  glottidis) 
are  altered  and  diminished,  are  sure  to  have  a  prejudicial  effect 
upon  the  wind,  and  either  to  produce  roaring,  whistling,  wheezing, 
or  trumpeting,  but  which  would  result  it  might  be  difficult  to  say, 
although  the  precise  condition  of  the  larynx  were  known,  which  it 
cannot  be  during  life.  Until  recently  veterinary  surgeons  were 
puzzled  by  often  finding  on  examination  of  a  roarer's  larynx  after 
death  no  visible  organic  change  in  the  opening,  and  many  were  led 
to  imagine  that  this  part  could  not  be  the  seat  of  the  disease.  On 
a  careful  dissection,  however,  it  is  found  that  a  muscle  or  muscles 
whose  office  it  is  to  dilate  the  larynx  is  wasted  and  flabby  (crico- 
arytenoideus  lateralis  and  thyro-arytenoideus).  The  other  muscles 
are  perhaps  equally  atrophied,  but  as  their  office  is  to  close  the 
opening,  their  defects  are  not  equally  injurious,  and  at  all  events 
are  not  shown  by  producing  an  unnatural  noise.  The  cause  of  this 
wasting  is  to  be  looked  for  in  pressure  upon  the  nerve  which  sup- 
plies these  muscles,  and  which  passes  through  an  opening  in  the 
posterior  ala  of  the  thyroid  cartilage,  so  that  whatever  causes  a  dis- 
placement of  that  part  will  mechanically  affect  the  nerve.  For 
these  several  reasons  it  will  be  necessary  to  examine  first  of  all  into 
the  several  kinds  of  inflammation,  &c.,  to  which  the  larynx  is  sub- 
ject, and  then  to  investigate  as  far  as  we  may,  the  nature,  mode 
of  detection,  and  treatment  of  the  several  conditions  known  to 
horsemen  by  the  names  of  roaring,  whistling,  &c.,  which  are  only 
symptoms  of  one  or  other  of  the  diseases  to  which  allusion  will 
presently  be  made. 

BY  ACUTE  LARYNGITIS  is  meant  a  more  than  ordinary  inflam- 
mation of  the  larynx,  and  not  that  slightly  morbid  condition  in 
which  the  mucous  membrane  of  that  organ  is  always  involved  in 
"  the  passage  of  a  cold  into  the  chest."  In  the  latter  state  the  ear 


CHRONIC  LARYNGITIS.  333 

detects  no  unusual  sound,  and  indeed  there  is  plenty  of  room  for 
the  air  to  pass.  But  in  true  laryngitis,  on  placing  the  ear  near  the 
throat,  a  harsh  rasping  sound  is  heard,  which  is  sufficient  at  once 
to  show  the  nature  and  urgency  of  the  symptoms.  The  mucous 
membrane  is  swollen,  and  tinged  with  blood;  the  rima  glottidis  is 
almost  closed,  and  the  air  in  passing  through  it  produces  the  sound 
above  described,  which,  however,  is  sometimes  replaced  by  a  stridu- 
lous  or  hissing  one.  In  conjunction  with  this  well-marked  symp- 
tom there  is  always  a  hoarse  cough  of  a  peculiar  character,  and 
some  considerable  fever,  with  frequent  respiration,  and  a  hard,  wiry 
pulse  of  seventy  to  eighty.  The  treatment  must  be  of  the  most 
active  kind,  for  not  only  is  life  threatened,  but  even  if  a  fatal  result 
does  not  take  place,  there  is  great  danger  of  permanent  organic 
misctief  to  the  delicate  apparatus  of  the  larynx,  generally  from  the 
effusion  of  lymph  into  the  submucous  cellular  membrane.  A  full 
bleeding  should  at  once  be  practised,  and  repeated  at  the  end  of 
twelve  hours  if  there  is  no  relief  afforded  and  the  pulse  still  con- 
tinues hard.  The  hair  should  be  cut  off  the  throat,  and  the  tinc- 
ture of  cantharides  brushed  on  in  a  pure  state  until  a  blister  arises, 
when  the  part  may  be  constantly  well  fomented,  to  encourage  the 
discharge.  Large  doses  of  tartar  emetic,  calomel,  and  digitalis, 
must  also  be  given,  but  their  amount  and  frequency  should  be  left 
to  an  experienced  veterinarian,  the  preliminary  bleeding  and  blis- 
tering being  done  in  his  absence  to  save  time.  It  is  a  case  in 
which  medicine  must  be  pushed  as  far  as  can  be  done  with  safety, 
and  this  cannot  well  be  left  to  any  one  who  is  not  well  acquainted 
with  its  effects,  and  with  the  powers  of  the  animal  economy.  Gruel 
is  the  only  food  allowed  during  the  acute  stage,  and  there  is  seldom 
time  to  have  recourse  to  aperient  physic  until  the  urgent  symp- 
toms are  abated,  when  an  ordinary  dose  may  be  given.  During 
convalescence  the  greatest  care  must  be  taken  to  prevent  a  re- 
lapse, by  avoiding  all  excitement  either  by  stimulating  food  or  fast 
exercise. 

CHRONIC  LARYNGITIS  may  occur  as  the  result  of  the  acute  form 
above  described,  or  it  may  come  on  gradually,  without  any  violent 
inflammation  preceding  it.  In  either  case  the  symptoms  are  simi- 
lar in  their  nature  to  those  met  with  in  the  acute  form,  but  less  in 
degree.  The  noise  made  is  not  nearly  so  harsh,  and  can  often 
hardly  be  heard  on  the  most  careful  examination.  The  peculiar 
harsh,  grating  cough  is,  however,  always  present,  and  by  it  the 
nature  of  the  case  may  generally  be  easily  made  out.  The  disease 
often  accompanies  strangles,  although  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten  it 
is  overlooked  by  the  careless  attendant.  Very  commonly,  how- 
ever, it  makes  its  ravages  in  so  insidious  a  manner  that  no  suspi- 
cion is  felt  of  its  presence,  until  the  horse  begins  to  make  a  noise, 
though  he  must  in  all  probability  have  shown  by  the  cough  peculiar 


334  THE  HORSE. 

to  the  complaint,  that  it  has  been  working  its  way  for  some  weeks 
at  least.  Such  cases  chiefly  occur  in  the  training  stable,  and  are 
due,  according  to  my  belief,  to  the  enormous  quantity  of  oats 
which  it  is  now  the  fashion  to  give  to  colts  from  the  earliest  period 
of  their  lives,  increased  to  seven  and  eight  feeds  a  day  during  the 
second  year.  Continued  spirit-drinking  has  precisely  the  same 
effect  upon  the  human  being,  and  the  harsh  stridulous  rough  of 
the  confirmed  drunkard  marks  the  existence  of  ulceration  of  the 
larynx,  in  the  only  way  which  he  will  allow  it  to  be  displayed,  for 
he  is  not,  like  the  horse,  made  to  exert  his  powers  of  running, 
whether  his  wind  is  good  or  bad.  There  is,  of  course,  a  consider- 
able difference  between  the  two  diseases,  but  there  is  sufficient 
analogy  between  them  to  explain  why  the  stimulus  of  over-corning 
should  affect  the  larynx  in  preference  to  any  other  part.  It  would 
be  difficult  to  show  the  connection  between  the  two  in  any  other 
way,  beyond  the  simple  fact  that  roaring  has  become  general  in  an 
exact  proportion  to  the  prevalence  of  the  present  fashion  of  feed- 
ing. The  advocates  of  the  plan  will  say  that  though  the  two  have 
come  in  together,  yet  it  is  merely  a  coincidence,  and  not  a  conse- 
quence the  one  of  the  other ;  but  if  it  can  be  shown  that  in  man 
a  similar  cause  produces  a  similar  effect,  the  argument  is  strength- 
ened to  such  a  degree  as  to  be  almost  unanswerable.  But  what- 
ever may  be  the  cause  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  treatment  is 
most  troublesome,  and  often  baffles  the  skill  of  the  most  accom- 
plished veterinarian.  Blistering  is  not  so  useful  as  counter-irrita- 
tion by  a  seton,  which  must  be  inserted  in  the  loose  skin  beneath 
the  jaw,  as  close  as  possible  to  the  larynx.  This  alone  will  do 
much  towards  the  cure,  but  no  pains  must  be  spared  to  assist  its 
action  by  a  cooling  regimen,  consisting  of  bran  mashes,  and  if  in 
the  spring  or  summer,  green  food,  or  in  the  winter,  carrots.  Corn 
must  be  entirely  forbidden,  and  the  kidneys  should  be  encouraged 
to  act  freely  by  two  or  three  drachms  of  nitre  given  in  the  mash 
twice  a  day.  When  the  case  is  very  intractable,  the  nitrate  of 
silver  may  be  applied  to  the  part  itself  by  means  of  a  sponge  fast- 
ened to  a  piece  of  flexible  cane  or  whalebone.  The  mouth  should 
then  be  kept  open  with  the  ordinary  balling  iron,  and  the  sponge 
rapidly  passed  to  the  situation  of  the  top  of  the  larynx,  and  held 
there  for  a  second,  and  then  withdrawn.  I  have  succeeded  in  cur- 
ing two  obstinate  cases  of  chronic  laryngitis  by  this  plan,  but  some 
little  risk  is  incurred,  as  in  one  of  them  imminent  symptoms  of 
suffocation  presented  tnemselves,  but  soon  went  off.  I  should  not, 
therefore,  recommend  the  application  excepting  in  cases  where  all 
other  means  have  failed,  and  in  which  there  is  reason  to  believe 
that  the  patient  is  likely  to  become  a  permanent  roarer  or  whistler. 
The  nitrate  of  silver  has  great  power  in  producing  resolution  of 
inflammation  in  mucous  surfaces,  and  in  this  disease  little  or 


*     ROARING.  335 

nothing  can  be  effected  by  general  measures.  The  solution  should 
be  from  ten  to  fifteen  grains  in  the  ounce  of  distilled  water. 

ROARING  is  the  bugbear  of  the  purchaser  at  the  hammer,  and 
not  without  good  reason.  The  most  experienced  veterinarian  or 
dealer  will  often  fail  to  ascertain  its  existence,  in  spite  of  all  the 
artifices  he  may  call  into  play.  Not  the  slightest  sound  is  heard 
during  a  state  of  quiescence,  or  even  when  the  horse  is  trotted  or 
galloped  for  the  short  distance  which  "  the  ride"  will  afford.  The 
blow  on  the  side  given  with  due  artistic  effect  elicits  no  grunt,  and 
yet  the  animal  is  a  confirmed  roarer,  and  not  worth  a  shilling  per- 
haps for  the  purpose  to  which  he  is  intended  to  be  devoted.  On 
the  other  hand,  many  a  sound  horse  is  condemned  as  a  roarer  for 
giving  out  the  obnoxious  grunt  j  and  though  there  is  no  doubt 
that  this  sign  may  be  relied  on  in  a  great  many  cases,  yet  it  can- 
not be  accepted  as  either  negatively  or  positively  a  certain  proof. 
The  only  real  trial  is  the  noiseless  gallop  on  turf  or  plough,  when 
the  ear  can  detect  the  slightest  sound,  and  can  distinguish  its  ex- 
act nature,  and  the  precise  spot  from  which  it  proceeds.  Many  a 
horse  will,  when  he  is  excited,  make  a  harsh  noise  in  his  breathing, 
accompanied  by  a  kind  of  "  gluck,"  proceeding  from  a  spasmodic 
flapping  of  the  velum  palati;  but  on  galloping  him  all  this  goes 
off,  and  he  may  probably  exhibit  excellent  wind  Such  cases  I 
have  many  times  known,  and  they  would  be  condemned  as  unsound 
by  those  who  have  had  little  experience,  or  are  content  with  a 
careless  and  inefficient  trial.  Stallions  are  particularly  prone  to 
make  this  kind  of  noise,  and  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  ascertain 
their  soundness  in  this  respect  by  any  means  which  can  be  safely 
resorted  to.  The  causes  of  roaring  are  of  three  kinds :  1st,  In- 
flammation, which  has  left  a  thickening  or  ulceration  of  the  mucous 
membrane,  or  a  fungous  growth  from  it;  2d,  Paralysis  of  the  mus- 
cles j  and  3d,  An  alteration  of  the  shape  of  the  cartilages  of  the 
larynx,  produced  by  tight  reining. 

In  roaring  produced  by  an  ulcerated  or  thickened  condition  of 
the  mucous  membrane,  or  by  a  fungous  growth,  the  sound  elicited 
is  always  the  same  in  proportion  to  the  rapidity  of  respiration. 
None  of  the  ordinary  expedients  by  which  the  breath  is  introduced 
in  a  modified  stream  (such  as  a  full  meal,  or  pressure  on  the  nos- 
trils or  windpipe),  will  be  of  much  avail,  and  the  horse  roars 
sturdily  whenever  his  pace  is  sufficiently  accelerated.  If  a  horse 
so  affected  can  be  made  to  grunt  by  the  blow  on  the  side,  the 
sound  will  always  indicate  the  disease,  for  it  will  be  harsh  and 
rough,  and  not  the  natural  grunt  of  the  animal.  It  is  usually 
supposed  that  no  treatment  can  be  of  the  slightest  avail  here  j  but 
I  believe  that  sometimes  the  continued  application  of  nitrate  of 
silver,  as  recommended  at  page  334,  would  be  followed  by  a  cer- 
tain amount  of  amelioration,  the  extent  of  which  it  is  impossible 


336  THE  HORSE.  * 

to  guess  at  without  a  trial.  In  any  case,  when  the  animal  is  ren- 
dered almost  worthless  by  disease,  it  is  fair  to  try  experiments 
which  are  neither  expensive  nor  cruel ;  and  from  the  effect  of  the 
remedy  in  those  cases  in  which  it  has  been  used,  I  am  led  to  ex- 
pect that  it  may  prove  beneficial  in  those  of  longer  standing. 
Setons,  blisters,  and  embrocations  are  all  useless,  as  has  been  proved 
in  numberless  cases;  and  beyond  the  palliation  which  can  be 
afforded  by  employing  the  horse  only  at  such  a  pace  as  his  state 
will  allow,  nothing  else  can  be  suggested.  In  some  cases  the 
roarer  will  be  able  to  do  ordinary  harness  work,  which,  however, 
in  hot  weather,  will  try  him  severely ;  in  others  he  may  be  so 
slightly  affected  as  to  be  fit  to  hunt  in  a  country  where,  from  its 
nature,  the  pace  is  not  very  severe  j  but  by  confirmed  roarers  the 
slow  work  of  the  cart  is  all  that  can  be  performed  without  cruelty. 
Where  paralysis  of  the  muscles  that  open  the  rima  glottidis  is 
the  seat  of  the  roaring,  no  plan  has  yet  been  suggested  which  is 
of  the  slightest  avail.  In  the  first  place,  it  is  extremely  difficult, 
and  indeed  almost  impossible,  to  diagnose  the  affection,  and  I  know 
of  no  means  by  which  paralysis  can  be  ascertained  to  exist  during 
life.  Hence,  although  it  is  barely  possible  that  by  the  use  of 
strychnine  the  nerve  might  be  stimulated  into  a  restoration  of  its 
functions,  yet  as  the  case  cannot  be  ascertained,  it  is  scarcely  wise 
to  give  this  powerful  drug  in  the  hope  that  it  may  by  chance  hit 
the  right  nail  on  the  head.  This  paralytic  condition  seems  chiefly 
to  attack  carriage  horses,  and  probably  arises  from  the  pressure 
made  by  the  over-curved  larynx  upon  the  laryngeal  nerve  as  it 
passes  through  the  opening  in  the  thyroid  cartilage.  Many  vete- 
rinary writers  have  looked  to  the  recurrent  branch  of  the  par 
vaguin  to  explain  the  loss  of  power,  but  I  believe  it  is  rather  to 
the  laryngeal  nerve  that  the  mischief  is  due.  It  must  be  remem- 
bered that  carriage-horses  are  not  only  reined  up  for  hours  while 
doing  their  daily  work  out  of  doors,  but  they  are  also  often  placed 
in  the  same  position,  or  even  a  more  constrained  one,  by  the  coach- 
man in  the  stable,  in  order  to  improve  their  necks.  One  horse  of 
his  pair  perhaps  has  naturally  a  head  better  set  on  than  the  other, 
and  he  wishes  to  make  nature  bend  to  his  wishes  by  compelling 
the  other  to  do  that  which  the  shape  of  his  jaw  forbids  without  a 
sacrifice.  The  mouthing  tackle  is  put  on  in  the  stable  with  this 
view,  and  the  poor  horse  is  "  kept  on  the  bit"  for  three  or  four 
hours  early  in  the  morning,  during  which  time  his  larynx  is  pressed 
between  his  narrow  jaws  into  a  most  unnatural  shape.  The  con- 
sequence is  either  that  the  nerve  is  pressed  upon,  and  the  muscles 
to  which  it  is  supplied  are  paralyzed,  as  in  the  condition  which  we 
are  now  considering,  or  the  cartilages  are  permanently  disfigured, 
which  is  the  subject  of  the  next  paragraph.  When  the  paralysis 


ROARING.  337 

is  established,  I  believe  no  means  but  the  internal  use  o  strych- 
nine are  at  all  likely  to  be  beneficial. 

An  alteration  in  the  shape  of  the  cartilages,  so  as  to  pern,  anently 
change  their  form,  is,  I  believe,  the  least  common  of  all  the  causes 
of  roaring.  Pressure  for  a  very  long  time  will  be  required  to 
effect  this,  and  far  more  than  suffices  to  paralyze  the  nerve.  Cases, 
however,  are  recorded,  and  the  parts  have  been  preserved,  so  that 
there  can  be  no  doubt  of  their  occasional  occurrence.  No  treat- 
ment can  be  of  the  slightest  service. 

Although  roaring.,  in  all  its  varieties,  may  be  said  to  be  generally 
incurable,  yet  it  may  be  greatly  palliated  by  general  attention  to 
the  state  of  the  lungs  and  stomach,  by  proper  food,  and  by  the 
use,  while  the  horse  is  at  work,  of  a  special  contrivance,  of  a 
most  ingenious  nature,  published  by  Mr.  Reeve,  of  Camberwell, 
in  the  Veterinarian  for  1858,  but  said  to  have  been  in  use  for 
many  years  among  the  London  omnibus  and  cab  men.  At  all 
events,  Mr.  Reeve  deserves  the  credit  of  having  laid  the  matter 
before  the  profession,  and  of  explaining  the  true  principle  upon 
which  it  acts.  He  says,  in  his  paper  on  the  subject :  "  I  thought 
it  possible  to  so  modify  the  atmospheric  supply  to  the  lungs,  that, 
during  exercise,  the  volume  of  air,  when  it  arrived  at  the  glottis, 
should  not  exceed  that  which  passed  through  its  opening  when  the 
horse  was  tranquil,  and  which  (from  the  fact  of  the  sound  being 
absent)  does  not  at  that  time  produce  roaring.  A  strap  was  accord- 
ingly made  to  pass  around  the  nose  of  the  horse,  just  over  the 
region  of  the  false  nostrils,  and  buckle  beneath  the  lower  jaw. 
To  the  inner  surface  of  this  strap,  and  immediately  over  the  false 
nostril  on  each  side,  was  fixed  a  body  resembling  in  shape  the  half 
of  a  hen's  egg,  cut  longitudinally.  When  applied,  these  bodies 
pressed  upon  the  triangular  spaces  formed  by  the  apex  of  the  nasal 
bones  and  upper  jaw,  thus  closing  the  false  nostrils,  and  partly 
diminishing  the  channel  of  the  true  ones.  The  result  was  highly 
gratifying ;  for  the  patient,  which  previously  could  not  travel  with- 
out stopping  every  minute  to  take  breath,  now  travelled,  to  all 
appearance,  without  inconvenience  or  .noise.  At  first,  the  strap 
seemed  slightly  to  annoy  the  horse ;  and  whenever  it  became  dis- 
placed, the  roaring  would  again  commence.  A  slight  modification, 
however,  overcame  every  difficulty  :  the  strap,  instead  of  being 
buckled  around  and  under  the  jaw,  was  fastened  on  each  side  of 
the  bit;  and,  to  prevent  its  descent,  another  was  carried  from  its 
centre,  and  fastened  to  the  front  of  the  harness-bridle."  Mr. 
Reeve  asserts  that  the  effect  was  all  he  could  have  wished,  and 
that  the  horse  on  which  he  tried  the  plan,  "  which  previously  had 
been  entirely  useless,  now  performs  his  work  in  a  heavy  brougham, 
and  gives  great  satisfaction.  The  roaring  is  stopped,  andj  with 
the  usual  speed,  there  appears  no  impediment  to  respiration." 
29  Y 


338  THE  HORSE. 

Tie  conclude-  :  "I  have  paid  particular  attention  to  this  case,  and 
am  inclined  to  think,  that  when  by  the  compression  we  have  neu- 
tralized the  action  of  the  false  nostrils,  the  object  is  effected  with- 
out the  necessity  of  further  narrowing  the  nasal  passage/' 

Few  people  would  care  to  drive  a  roarer,  if  they  could  help  it, 
even  with  the  aid  of  the  nasal  compress ;  but  if  necessity  compels 
such  a  proceeding,  it  is  well  to  know  how  the  poor  animal  may  be 
used  with  least  annoyance  to  himself  and  his  master. 

HIGHBLOWING  is  a  perfectly  healthy  and  natural  habit,  and 
cannot  be  confounded  with  roaring  by  any  experienced  horseman. 
It  is  solely  confined  to  the  nostrils;  and  the  noise  is  not  produced 
in  the  slightest  degree  during  inspiration,  but  solely  during  the 
expulsion  of  the  air,  which  is  more  forcible  and  rapid  than  usual, 
and  accompanied  by  a  vibratory  movement  of  the  nostrils,  which 
is  the  seat  of  the  noise.  Roaring,  on  the  contrary,  continues  dur- 
ing inspiration,  as  well  as  expiration ;  and  by  this  simple  test  the 
two  may  readily  be  distinguished.  Most  highblowers  have  par- 
ticularly good  wind,  of  which  the  celebrated  Eclipse  is  an  exam- 
ple ;  for  there  is  no  doubt  that  he  was  addicted  to  the  habit. 

WHISTLING  (AND  PIPING,  which  is  very  similar  to  it),  are  pro- 
duced by  the  same  causes  as  roaring,  in  an  exaggerated  condition. 
Thus,  a  roarer  often  becomes  a  whistler  as  the  rima  glottidis  is 
more  and  more  closed  by  disease ;  on  the  other  hand,  the  whistler 
is  never  converted  into  a  roarer.  The  noise  made  is  seldom  a 
decidedly  shrill  whistle,  but  it  has  more  resemblance  to  that  sound 
than  to  roaring,  and  the  name  may  well  be  retained  as  descriptive 
of  it.  Whistlers  are  always  in  such  a  state  of  confirmed  disease, 
that  treatment  is  out  of  the  question — indeed,  they  can  only  be 
put  to  the  very  slowest  kind  of  work. 

WHEEZING  is  indicative  of  a  contracted  condition  of  the  bron- 
chial, tubes,  which  is  sometimes  of  a  spasmodic  nature,  and  at 
others  is  only  brought  on  during  occasional  attacks  after  exposure 
to  cold.  The  treatment  should  be  that  recommended  for  chronic 
bronchitis,  which  is  the  nature  of  the  disease  producing  these 
symptoms. 

TRUMPETING  is  not  very  well  defined  by  veterinary  writers,  and 
I  confess  that  I  have  never  heard  any  horse  make  a  noise  which 
could  be  compared  to  the  trumpet,  or  to  the  note  of  the  elephant 
so  called. 

THE  QUESTION  RELATING  TO  THE  HEREDITARY  NATURE  of  roar- 
ing is  one  which  demands  the  most  careful  examination  before  a 
reliable  answer  can  be  given  to  it.  It  would  be  necessary  to  select 
at  random  a  number  of  roaring  sires  and  dams,  and  compare  their 
stock  with  that  of  an  equal  proportion  of  sound  animals,  which 
would  be  a  Herculean  task,  beyond  the  power  of  any  private  indi- 
vidual. Nothiig  short  of  this  could  possibly  settle  the  dispute; 


PNEUMONIA.  339 

but,  as  far  as  opinion  goes,  it  may  be  assumed  that  there  are  strong 
authorities  against  the  hereditary  nature  of  the  diseases  which  pro- 
duce roaring.  That  it  is  often  the  result  of  ordinary  inflamma- 
tion, which  in  itself  can  scarcely  be  considered  hereditary,  is  plain 
enough ;  and  that  it  is  also  produced  by  mismanagement  in  tight 
reining  is  also  admitted,  which  latter  kind  can  scarcely  be  supposed 
to  be  handed  down  from  sire  tc  son;  but  that  it  is  safer,  when 
practicable,  to  avoid  parents  with  any  disease  whatever,  is  patent 
to  all. 

PNEUMONIA  AND   CONGESTION  OF  THE  LUNGS.* 
THE    THEORETICAL   DEFINITION    OP   PNEUMONIA  is  that  it  COn- 

sists  of  inflammation  of  the  parenchyma  of  the  lungs,  independently 
both  of  the  mucous  lining  to  the  air  passages,  and  of  the  serous 
covering  of  the  whole  mass.  The  mucous  membrane  ceases  ab- 
ruptly at  the  terminations  of  the  bronchial  subdivisions,  and 
consequently  the  air-cells  are  not  lined  with  a  continuation  from 
it.  Hence  there  is  an  extensive  cellulo-fibrous  area,  which  may 
be  the  subject  of  inflammation,  without  implicating  the  mucous 
surface.  Until  within  the  last  fifteen  or  twenty  years,  it  was  com- 
monly supposed  that  the  air-cells  were  all  lined  by  mucous  mem- 
brane, and  that  the  parenchyma  was  confined  to  an  almost  infini- 
tesimally  thin  structure,  tilling  up  its  interstices  j  but  the  microscope 
has  revealed  the  true  structure  of  the  lungs,  and  has  shown  that 
there  is  a  well-founded  distinction  between  bronchitis  and  pneu- 
monia, upon  the  ground  of  anatomy,  as  well  as  observation.  Still, 
it  cannot  be  denied  that  the  one  seldom  exists  to  any  great  extent, 
or  for  any  long  period,  without  involving  the  adjacent  tissue ;  and 
broncho-pneumonia,  as  well  as  pleuro-pneumonia,  are  as  common 
as  the  pure  disease. 

PNEUMONIA,  OR  PERIPNEUMONY,  must  be  examined,  with  a 
view,  first,  to  its  intensity,  whether  acute  or  sub-acute  j  and 
secondly,  as  to  its  effects,  which  may  be  of  little  consequence,  or 
they  may  be  so  serious  as  to  completely  destroy  the  subsequent 
usefulness  of  the  patient.  It  is  not,  therefore,  alone  necessary  to 
provide  against  death  by  the  treatment  adopted,  but  due  care  must 
also  be  taken  that  the  tissue  of  the  lungs  is  not  disorganized  by  a 
deposition  of  lymph,  or  of  matter,  so  as  to  lead,  in  the  one  case,  to 
a  consolidation  of  the  air-cells,  and,  in  the  other,  to  the  formation 

*  All  diseases  of  the  chest  and  lungs,  among  farmers  and  others,  are 
classed  under  the  general  head  of  Lung  Fever.  Whether  the  lungs  he  inflamed 
or  congested,  tincture  of  aconite  is  the  surest  remedy,  and  is  in  fact  the 
most  successful  sedative  in  all  diseases  of  the  chest  or  lungs.  Give  20  drops 
every  four  hours,  until  four  or  five  doses  have  been  given,  allowing  plenty  of 
cold  water  and  pure  air.  This  last  (pure  air)  is  very  important,  and  should 
not  be  overlooked. — EDITOR. 


340  THE  HORSE. 

of  a  largi  abcess,  and  consequent  destruction  of  substance.  The 
former  is  a  very  common  sequel  of  pneumonia  •  and  probably  there 
are  few  attacks  of  it  without  being  followed  by  a  greater  or  less 
degree  of  hepatization,  by  which  term  the  deposit  of  lymph  is 
known,  from  its  causing  the  lungs  to  assume  the  texture  of  liver 
(Y}-ap).  In  very  severe  cases,  gangrene  of  the  lungs  is  induced ; 
but  as  death  almost  always  speedily  follows  this  condition,  it  is  not 
necessary  to  consider  it,  excepting  as  bearing  upon  the  fatal  result. 

The  cause  of  pneumonia  may  be  over-exertion,  as  in  the  hunting- 
field,  especially  in  an  unprepared  horse ;  or  it  may  come  on  as  a 
primary  disease  after  exposure  to  cold;  or  it  may  follow  upon 
bronchitis  when  neglected  and  allowed  to  run  on  without  check. 
In  the  two  first  cases  it  appears  to  be  produced  by  the  great  con- 
gestion of  blood  which  takes  place  in  the  fine  network  of  vessels  of 
which  the  lungs  are  in  great  part  composed.  The  blood  in  the 
one  case  is  collected  by  the  increased  necessity  for  its  aeration  with 
a  failing  circulation,  as  in  over-exhaustion,  or  in  the  other  it  is 
forced  inwards  upon  the  vital  organs  by  the  chill  which  the  skin 
has  received.  The  capillaries  are  then  roused  to  act  beyond  their 
strength,  and  an  inflammatory  condition  is  established  as  a  repara- 
tory  effort  of  nature,  which  may  possibly  stop  short  as  soon  as  the 
object  is  accomplished,  but  more  frequently  goes  on  beyond  this, 
and  an  attack  of  pneumonia  sets  in  with  more  or  less  intensity, 
according  to  circumstances.  For  these  reasons,  when  the  lungs 
are  evidently  congested,  no  pains  should  be  spared  to  relieve  them 
by  causing  the  skin  to  act.  before  the  aid  of  nature  is  invoked, 
since  it  can  never  be  certain  that  she  will  stop  short  at  the  proper 
point. 

CONGESTION  OF  THE  LUNGS  is  too  often  neglected  and  allowed 
to  go  on  to  inflammation.  Veterinary  surgeons,  indeed,  are  sel- 
dom called  in  before  this  stage  has  run  its  course  and  inflammation 
is  established.  It  is  true  that  every  hunting  man  endeavors  to 
ascertain  all  the  particulars  relating  to  it,  because  he  is  constantly 
in  fear  of  having  to  treat  it,  and  he  would  gladly  benefit  by  the 
advice  and  experience  of  those  more  competent  to  treat  it  than 
himself  But  the  great  mass  of  horsemasters  are  wholly  ignorant 
of  its  action,  and  I  shall  therefore  endeavor  to  lay  down  instruc- 
tions which  may  be  beneficial  to  those  who  are  so  unlucky  as  to 
have  a  horse  with  congested  lungs,  either  caused  by  over-exertion 
or  by  a  chill,  or  by  a  combination  of  the  two,  as  most  frequently 
happens. 

When  a  fat  "  dealer  s  horse,"  that  is,  one  made  up  for  sale  and 
not  for  use,  is  ridden  in  a  sharp  burst  across  country,  his  lungs  are 
most  unfortunately  tried,  for  he  is  not  only  loaded  with  blood  con- 
taining an  excess  of  stimulating  materials  (or  in  a  state  of  plethora, 
as  it  is  called),  but  his  heart  and  blood-vessels  arc  not  prepared  by 


PNEUMONIA.  341 

previous  exercise  to  carry  on  the  circulation  when  unusual  demands 
upon  them  are  made.  The  consequence  is  that,  as  soon  as  he  has 
gone  half  a  dozen  miles,  he  not  only  tires,  but,  if  pressed,  his  gal- 
lant spirit  carries  him  on  until  the  blood  collects  and  stagnates  in 
his  lungs,  from  a  defect  in  the  circulating  apparatus,  and  he  be- 
comes absolutely  choked  from  a  want  of  that  decarbonization  waich 
is  necessary  to  his  very  existence.  Air  is  taken  freely  into  his 
lungs,  but  the  circulation  almost  ceases  in  them,  and  in  spite  of 
his  hurried  breathing,  as  shown  by  his  panting  sides,  he  is  almost 
as  completely  suffocated  as  if  a  cord  was  tied  round  his  neck.  On 
examining  his  eyes  and  nostrils  they  are  seen  to  be  turgid  and 
purple,  the  vessels  being  filled  with  carbonized  blood,  while  the 
heart  beats  rapidly  but  feebly,  and  the  countenance  is  expressive 
of  anxiety  and  distress.  In  this  state  many  a  horseman  finds  his 
steed  every  winter,  and  a  pretty  dilemma  he  is  in.  The  question 
of  treatment  is  a  serious  one,  even  to  the  most  experienced  in  such 
matters,  but  one  thing  is  quite  clear,  that  the  more  urgent  the 
case  the  more  danger  there  is  in  having  recourse  to  the  lancet. 
Bleeding  to  the  extent  of  a  few  pounds  will  sometimes  relieve  a 
trifling  case  of  exhaustion,  but  in  a  really  severe  one  it  will  take 
away  the  only  chance  which  remains.  The  best  plan  is  to  give  the 
animal  plenty  of  air,  turn  his  head  to  the  wind,  and  if  any  kind 
of  fermented  liquor  can  be  obtained,  give  him  a  little  at  once. 
Neat  spirits  are  apt  to  cause  increased  distress  from  spasm  of  the 
larynx,  but  it  is  even  better  to  risk  this  than  to  let  the  exhaustion 
continue.  If,  therefore,  the  horse  is  incapable  of  walking  to  the 
nearest  farm-house  or  inn,  the  better  plan  is  to  leave  him  with  a 
light  covering  on  him  of  some  kind,  and  at  once  proceed  to  pro- 
cure a  quart  of  ale  or  wine,  or  spirits  and  water,  whichever  can  be 
obtained  the  most  easily.  One  or  other  of  these,  slightly  warmed 
and  spiced,  if  possible,  should  be  poured  down  his  throat,  which 
can  readily  be  done,  as  he  has  no  power  to  resist,  and  then  in  a 
few  minutes  he  may  generally  be  induced  to  move  quietly  on  to- 
wards the  nearest  stable.  Here  he  must  remain  all  night  if  the 
attack  is  a  bad  one,  or  if  he  recovers  soon  he  may  be  walked 
quietly  home.  When  he  reaches  his  stable  he  may  be  treated 
according  to  the  directions  given  at  page  188,  and  in  the  evening 
or  the  next  morning  early,  if  the  pulse  rises  and  is  hard  and  jerk- 
ing, he  may  be  bled  with  advantage,  but  rarely  should  this  be  done 
for  some  hours  after  the  first  attack.  Congestion  is  essentially 
produced  by  debility,  and  although  an  abstraction  of  blood  relieves 
the  vessels  of  a  part  of  their  load,  it  increases  their  weakness  in 
a  still  greater  degree,  and  they  are  less  able  to  do  their  work, 
diminished  though  it  may  be,  than  they  were  before.  Hundreds 
of  over-worked  horses  have  been  killed  by  the  abuse  of  the  lancet 
29* 


3-12  THE  HORSE. 

in  the  hunting-field,  but  the  principle  on  which  their  treatment 
should  be  conducted  is  better  understood  now  than  formerly. 

WHEN  CONGESTION  shows  itself  as  the  result  of  a  chill,  the 
following  symptoms  are  displayed  : — First  and  foremost  there  is 
rapid  and  laborious  breathing,  the   horse  standing  with  his  legs 
wide  apart,  his  head  thrust  straight  forward,  and  his  flanks  heav- 
ing.    The  skin  is  generally  dry,  but  if  there  is  any  sweat  it  is  a 
cold  one.     The  legs  are  icy  cold,  and  also  the  ears.     The  whites  of 
the  eyes  and  lining  of  the  nostrils  are  of  a  purplish  hue,  but  not 
very  deep  in  colour      The  pulse  is  slightly  accelerated  (from  forty 
to  fifty),  but  not  hard  and  incompressible ;  and  lastly,  the  attack 
is  of  recent  duration.     These  signs,  however,  are  not  to  be  fully 
relied  on  as  marking  congestion  rather  than  inflammation,  without 
having  recourse  to  an  examination  of  the  lungs  by  means  of  the 
ear.      Placing  it  against  the  side  of  the   chest,  in  inflammation 
there  would  be  certain  marked  sounds,  presently  to  be  described, 
whilst  in  the  state  we  are  now  considering  they  are  wholly  absent, 
and  all  that  is  heard   is  the   usual  respiratory  murmur  slightly 
increased  in  intensity.     It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  make 
out  exactly  the  nature  of  the  case,  for  the  treatment  should  be 
very  different  in  congestion  and  inflammation.     If  in  the  former 
condition  the  blood  can  only  be  drawn  into  the  skin,  relief  is  at 
once  afforded  and  all  danger  is  at  an    end ;  but  in   the   latter, 
though  some  slight  advantage  would  be  gained,  the  progress  of 
the  disease  would  not  be  materially  checked.     To  produce  this 
determination  of  blood  to  the  skin  without  loss  of  time,  is  some- 
times  very   difficult;  but  by  the   application   of  hot  water    and 
blankets  it  may  generally  be  accomplished.     Two  men,  supplied 
with  a  tub  of  very  hot  water  and  plenty  of  clothing,  should  be 
rapid  in    their    movements,  and    proceed    as    follows : — Have    an 
assistant  ready  to  strip  the   patient  when  ordered,  then,  dipping 
a  blanket  in  the  water,  it  is  taken  out  and  partially  wrung,  leaving 
as  much  water  in  its  meshes  as  it  can  hold  without  dropping  j  as 
soon  as  it  is  cool  enough  for  the  human  hand  to  bear  its  pressure 
it  should  be  gently,  but  quickly,  laid  upon  the  horse's  back,  and 
the  rug,  which  has  just  come  off,  while  still  warm,  placed  over 
it,  with  two  or  three  more  over  all,  the  number   depending  upon 
the  temperature  of  the  air.     Another  smaller  rug  may  in  the  same 
way  be  wetted  and  applied  to  the  neck,  covering  it  with  two  or 
three  hoods,  but  taking  care  to  avoid  pressure  upon  the  windpipe. 
The  legs  also  should  be  wrapped  in  flannel  bandages,  made  as  hot 
as  possible  before  the  fire,  but  dry.     In  the  course  of  half  an  hour, 
if  the  skin  of  the  parts  uncovered  does  not  become  warm,  and 
show  evidences   of  sweating   coming    on,    another    rug  must  be 
dipped   in  the  same  \  ly,  and   substituted  quickly  for  the  first. 


PNEUMONIA.  343 

Usually,  however,  the  desired  effect  is  produced  within  twenty 
minutes,  and  then  great  care  and  some  little  tact  are  required  to 
manage  the  operation.  If  the  sweating  is  allowed  to  go  on 
beyond  a  certain  point  exhaustion  is  produced,  attended  by  almost 
as  much  danger  as  inflammation ;  while  on  the  other  hand,  in 
attempting  to  moderate  the  action  of  the  skin,  risk  is  incurred  of  a 
chill,  and  thus  upsetting  all  the  benefit  which  might  otherwise 
have  been  derived.  But  by  throwing  open  the  doors  to  the 
external  air,  which  may  freely  be  admitted  as  soon  as  the  skin 
acts,  and  by  reducing  the  number  of  additional  rugs,  the  amount 
of  sweat  given  off  may  be  kept  within  due  bounds,  and  in  the 
course  of  two  or  three  hours  the  previously  wetted  rug  or  blanket 
may  be  removed,  and  a  dry,  warm  one  substituted  for  it,  but  the 
assistants  must  be  quick  and  handy  in  effecting  the  change. 
Many  a  case  of  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  kidneys,  or  bowels  might 
be  stopped  in  limine  by  the  adoption  of  this  plan ;  but  the  misfor- 
tune is  that  it  requires  all  the  skill  and  tact  of  the  veterinary  surgeon, 
first  of  all  to  diagnose  the  case,  and  afterwards  to  manage  its  treat- 
ment. Still,  if  a  master  will  undertake  the  superintendence  of 
the  operation  himself,  and  is  accustomed  to  disease,  there  is  little 
risk  of  failure. 

THE  SYMPTOMS  OP  ACUTE  PNEUMONIA  are  a  quick  and  dis- 
tressed respiration,  averaging  about  sixty  inspirations  in  the 
minute.  Pulse  quick  (from  seventy  to  eighty -five) ;  hard,  often 
small,  but  always  compressible.  Nostrils  distended,  and  the 
lining  membrane  red  (except  in  the  last  stage,  when  suffocation  is 
imminent).  Cough  short,  and  evidently  giving  pain,  which  occa- 
sions it  to  be  checked  as  much  as  possible  Legs  and  ears  gene- 
rally cold,  often  icy.  Feet  wide  apart ;  evidently  with  an  instinc- 
tive desire  to  dilate  the  chest  as  much  as  possible.  On  putting 
the  ear  to  the  chest,  if  the  attack  is  very  recent,  there  will  be 
merely  a  greatly  increased  respiratory  murmur;  but  when  fully 
developed  there  may  be  heard  a  crepitant  rattling,  which  is  com- 
pared to  the  crackling  of  a  dried  bladder;  but  I  confess  that  I 
could  never  make  out  the  similarity  between  the  two  sounds.  In 
the  later  stages,  this  is  succeeded  by  an  absence  of  all  sound, 
owing  to  the  consolidation  of  the  lungs,  or  by  mucous  rattles 
depending  upou  the  secretion  of  mucus.  On  tapping  the  exterior 
of  the  chest  with  the  ends  of  the  fingers  (percussion),  the  sound 
given  out  is  dull  in  proportion  to  the  extent  of  mischief,  the  effect 
of  pneumonia  being  to  convert  the  spongy  texture  of  the  lungs 
into  a  solid  substance  like  liver.  The  treatment  will  greatly 
depend  upon  the  stage  of  the  disease,  the  age  and  constitution  of 
the  horse,  and  the  nature  of  the  prevailing  epidemic,  if  there  is 
one.  In  modern  days  bl  eding  is  very  badly  borne,  either  by 


344  THE  HORSE. 

man  or  horse,  nevertheless  few  cases  of  genuine  pneumonia  will  be 
saved  without  it.  Sufficient  blood  must  be  taken  to  make  a  decid- 
ed impression  on  the  circulation,  without  which  the  inflammation  will 
not  be  mastered.  The  quantity  necessary  for  this  cannot  be  fixed, 
because  the  effect  will  vary  so  materially,  that  the  abstraction  of 
three  or  four  quarts  of  blood  in  one  case  will  do  more  than  double 
or  treble  that  quantity  in  another.  A  large  orifice  must  be  made 
in  the  vein,  and  it  must  not  be  closed  until  the  lining  membrane 
of  the  nose  or  the  white  of  the  eye  is  seen  to  have  become  con- 
siderably paler.  It  may  possibly  even  then  be  necessary  to  repeat 
the  operation  six  hours  afterwards,  or  next  day,  according  to  the 
symptoms.  The  rule  should  be  followed  of  taking  enough  but 
not  a  drop  too  much,  for  blood  removed  from  the  circulation  takes 
a  long  time  to  replace.  With  regard  to  medicine,  tartar  emetic  is 
the  only  drug  which  seems  to  have  much  influence  over  pneu- 
monia, and  it  must  be  given  every  six  hours  in  drachm  doses, 
with  from  half  a  drachm  to  a  drachm  of  powdered  digitalis,  or 
white  hellebore,  to  keep  down  the  pulse,  and  two  or  three 
drachms  of  nitre,  to  increase  the  action  of  the  kidneys.  Unless 
the  bowels  are  confined  no  aperient  should  be  given,  and  if  neces- 
sary only  the  mildest  dose  should  be  used.  The  diet  should  con- 
sist of  bran  mashes,  gruel,  and  a  little  hay,  or  green  food  if  the 
season  of  the  year  allows.  A  cool  airy  stable  and  warm  clothing 
are  indispensable  in  this  disease.  When  the  first  violence  of  the 
attack  has  subsided,  a  large  blister  on  the  side  of  the  chest  will 
afford  great  relief,  and  when  it  ceases  to  act,  if  the  disease  is  not 
entirely  cured  a  second  may  be  put  on  the  other  side. 

SUB-ACUTE  PNEUMONIA  differs  in  no  respect  from  the  acute  form, 
excepting  in  degree,  and  the  symptoms  and  treatment  will  vary 
only  in  proportion. 

THE  TERMINATIONS  of  pneumonia  may  be  death,  or  resolution 
(by  which  is  to  be  understood  a  disappearance  of  the  symptoms 
without  leaving  any  mischief  behind),  or  hepatization,  or  abcess. 
The  last-named  sequel  may  be  very  serious  in  extent,  but  if  an 
opening  is  made  by  nature  for  the  discharge  of  its  contents  into 
the  bronchial  tubes  the  horse  may  recover,  and  his  wind  may  be 
sufficiently  good  for  any  purposes  but  the  racecourse  or  the  hunt- 
ing field.  Hepatization  is  always  attended  with  thick  wind,  but 
in  other  respects  the  health  may  be  good,  and  the  horse  may  be 
suited  to  ordinary  work.  In  process  of  time  some  of  the  lymph  is 
absorbed,  and  a  considerable  improvement  takes  place,  but  it  never 
entirely  disappears,  and  a  horse  which  has  once  suffered  from 
pneumonia  attended  by  hepatization  remains  permanently  unsound. 


PLEURISY— PLEURODYNIA.  345 

<v 

PLEUKISY.* 

THIS  DISEASE  is  characterized  by  a  very  peculiar  respiration, 
the  expirations  being  much  longer  than  the  inspirations,  owing  to 
the  pain  which  is  given  by  the  action  of  the  muscles  necessary  for 
the  latter,  while  the  former,  if  the  chest  is  allowed  quietly  to  fall, 
is  almost  painless.  Nevertheless,  the  breathing  is  quicker  on  the 
whole  than  natural,  being  from  forty  to  fifty  per  minute.  The 
pulse  is  quick,  small,  and  incompressible.  Nostrils  and  eyes  of  a 
natural  color,  and  the  former  are  not  dilated.  The  countenance  is 
anxious,  and  the  legs  are  rather  drawn  together  than  extended,  as 
in  bronchitis  and  pneumonia,  and  they  are  not  colder  than  usual. 
There  is  a  short  hurried  cough,  with  great  restlessness,  and  the 
sides  are  always  painful  on  pressure ;  but  this  symptom  by  itself  is 
not  to  be  relied  on,  as  it  is  present  in  pleurodynia,  which  will  be 
presently  described. 

The  treatment  should  consist  of  copious  bleeding,  followed  by  a 
mild  purgative,  and  the  same  ball  as  recommended  for  pneumonia, 
with  the  addition  of  half  a  drachm  of  calomel.  Blisters  are  not 
desirable  to  be  applied  to  the  sides  of  the  thorax,  as  there  is  so 
little  space  between  the  two  surfaces  of  the  pleura  and  the  skin 
that  they  are  apt  to  do  harm  by  immediately  irritating  the  former, 
rather  than  to  act  beneficially  by  counter-irritation  of  the  skin.  A 
large  rowel,  may,  however,  be  placed  in  the  breast  with  advantage. 

HYDROTHORAX,  or  water  in  the  cavity  of  the  chest,  is  one  of 
the  sequels  of  chronic  pleurisy,  the  serum  thrown  out  being  the 
means  by  which  a  serous  membrane  relieves  itself.  It  can  be 
detected  by  the  entire  absence  of  respiratory  murmur,  and  by  the 
dullness  on  percussion.  No  treatment  is  of  any  avail  but  tapping, 
which  may  be  readily  and  safely  performed  (if  the  diagnosis  is 
correct)  by  passing  a  trocar  between  the  eighth  and  ninth  ribs, 
near  their  cartilages.  If,  however,  an  error  has  been  committed, 
the  lung  is  wounded,  and  death  will  probably  ensue. 

PLEURODYNIA. 

BETWEEN  THIS  DISEASE  AND  THE  LAST  there  is  some  simi- 
larity in  the  symptoms ;  but  in  their  nature,  and  in  the  treatment 
required,  they  are  widely  separated.  It  is,  therefore,  necessary 
that  they  should  not  be  confounded,  for  in  the  one  case  blood- 
letting and  other  active  measures  may  be  unnecessarily  adopted, 
and  in  the  other  a  fatal  result  will  most  probably  occur  for  want 


*  In  all  diseases  the  product  of  which  is  exudation,  or  the  outpouring  of 
water,  bleeding,  purging,  and  other  devitalizing  agents  should  be  religi- 
ously abstained  from.  Blisters  in  this  disease  may  be  of  some  service  but 
should  be  used  only  when  inflammation  has  subsided.  Aconite,  pure  air. 
and  cold  water  is  the  most  successful  way  of  curing  pleurisy. — EDITOR. 


346  THE  HORSE. 

of  them.  In  pleuritis  there  is  a  quick  pulse,  with  general  consti- 
tutional disturbance,  which  will  serve  to  distinguish  it  from  pleuro- 
dynia,  besides  which,  it  is  rarely  that  we  meet  with  the  former 
without  some  other  affection  of  the  lungs  co-existing.  When, 
therefore,  a  horse  is  evidently  suffering  from  acute  pain  in  the 
walls  of  the  thorax,  unaccompanied  by  cough,  hurried  breathing, 
quick  pulse,  or  fever,  it  may  safely  be  diagnosed  that  the  nature 
of  the  attack  is  a  rheumatism  of  the  intercostal  muscles  (pleuro- 
dynia),  and  not  pleurisy.  In  treating  it,  bleeding  and  tartar  emetic 
must  be  carefully  avoided,  and  hot  mustard  and  vinegar  rubbed 
into  the  sides  will  be  the  most  likely  remedy  to  afford  relief. 

PHTHISIS. 

WHEN  A  HORSE  HAS  LONG  BEEN  SUBJECT  TO  A  CHRONIC  COUGH, 
and,  without  losing  appetite,  wastes  away  rapidly,  it  may  be  assumed 
that  he  is  a  victim  to  phthisis,  and  especially  if  he  is  narrow- 
chested  and  has  long  shown  signs  of  short  wind.  On  examining 
the  chest  by  the  ear,  it  will  be  found  to  give  out  sounds  of  various 
kinds,  depending  upon  the  exact  state  of  the  lungs ;  but  in  most 
cases  there  will  be  great  dulness  on  percussion,  owing  to  the 
deposit  of  tubercles,  in  which  the  disease  consists.  In  a  confirmed 
case  no  treatment  will  avail,  and  the  poor  animal  had  better  be 
destroyed.  When  the  attack  is  slight,  the  progress  of  the  disease 
may  be  stayed  by  counteracting  inflammation  in  the  ordinary  way, 
avoiding  loss  of  blood  when  possible.  Haemorrhage,  from  the 
breaking  down  of  the  substance  of  the  lung,  by  which  a  large 
blood-vessel  is  opened,  is  a  common  result  of  phthisis,  and  will  be 
alluded  to  under  the  head  of  diseases  of  the  vessels  of  the  lungs, 
at  the  end  of  this  chapter. 

BROKEN  WIND. 

A  BROKEN-WINDED  HORSE  can  be  detected  at  once  by  any 
horseman  possessed  of  experience,  from  the  peculiar  and  forcible 
double  expiration.  Inspiration  is  performed  as  usual,  then  comes 
a  rapid  but  not  violent  act  of  expiration,  followed  by  a  forcible 
repetition  of  the  same,  in  which  all  the  muscles  of  respiration, 
auxiliary  and  ordinary,  are  called  into  play.  This  is,  of  course, 
most  marked  when  the  horse  has  been  gallopped,  but  even  when 
he  is  at  rest  the  double  expiration  is  manifest  at  almost  any  ordi- 
nary distance  from  the  observer.  The  disease  almost  (if  not  quite) 
invariably  consists  in  emphysema,  or  entrance  of  the  air  into 
unnatural  cells,  which  is  retained  there,  as  the  urine  is  in  the 
bladder,  from  the  valvular  nature  of  the  openings,  and  cannot  be 
entirely  expelled,  nor  in  the  slightest  degree,  without  calling  into 
play  all  the  muscles  of  the  chest.  The  presence  of  unchanged  air 
is  a  constant  source  of  irritation  to  the  lungs,  and  although  sum- 


BROKEN  WIND— THICK  WIND.  347 

cient  may  be  expired  easily  enough  to  carry  on  their  functions 
while  the  body  is  at  rest,  yet  instinctively  there  is  a  desire  to  get 
rid  of  the  surplus,  and  hence  the  two  acts  of  respiration.  Imme- 
diately after  this  second  act  the  muscles  relax,  and  the  flank  falls 
in,  and  this  it  is  which  catches  the  eye  in  so  remarkable  a  manner. 
On  examination  after  death,  the  lungs  are  found  to  remain  en- 
larged, and  do  not  collapse  as  in  the  healthy  condition.  They  are 
distended  with  air;  and  this  is  especially  the  case  when  the  em- 
physema is  of  the  kind  called  interlobular,  in  which  the  air  has 
escaped  into  the  cellular  membrane.  In  the  most  common  kind> 
however,  the  cells  are  broken  down,  several  being  united  together, 
while  the  enlargement  pressing  upon  the  tube  which  has  opened 
into  them  diminishes  its  capacity,  and  prevents  the  ready  escape 
of  air.  This  is  the  vesicular  emphysema  of  pathologists.  The 
former  is  generally  suddenly  produced  by  a  severe  gallop  after  a 
full  meal,  while  the  latter  is  a  slow  growth  and  often  occurs  at 
grass,  as  a  consequence  of  neglected  chronic  cough,  the  constant 
muscular  efforts  appearing  gradually  to  dilate  the  cells. 

The  treatment  can  only  be  palliative,  as  there  is  no  recognised 
cure  for  the  disease,  though  M.  Hew,  of  Chaumont,  has  lately  pub- 
lished a  report  of  ten  cases  in  which  treatment  by  arsenic  given 
with  green  food  or  straw,  and  in  some  cases  bleeding,  was  perfectly 
successful.  The  arsenic  was  given  to  the  extent  of  fifteen  grains 
daily,  and  at  the  end  of  a  fortnight  the  symptoms  of  broken  wind 
were  completely  removed;  but,  as  the  horses  were  not  subsequently 
watched,  it  is  impossible  to  say  whether  the  cure  was  permanent. 
It  is  known,  however,  that  one  of  them  relapsed  after  three  months, 
but  speedily  yielded  to  a  repetition  of  the  treatment.  It  may  cer- 
tainly be  worth  while  to  try  the  experiment  of  the  effect  of  arsenic 
where  a  broken-winded  horse  is  valuable  in  other  respects.  The 
medicine  is  not  expensive,  and  the  length  of  time  necessary  for  the 
treatment  is  not  very  great.  Broken -winded  horses  should  be  care- 
fully dieted,  and  even  then  confined  to  slow  work.  The  food  should 
be  in  small  compass,  consisting  chiefly  of  wheat-straw  chaff,  with  a 
proper  quantity  of  oats,  and  beans  may  be  added  if  the  animal  is 
not  very  young.  The  water  should  never  be  given  within  an  hour 
of  going  out  of  the  stable,  but  it  is  better  to  leave  a  constant  sup- 
ply, when  too  much  will  never  be  taken.  Carrots  are  peculiarly 
suited  to  this  disease,  and  a  diet  of  bran  mixed  with  carrots,  sliced, 
has  sometimes  been  known  to  relieve  a  broken-winded  horse  most 
materially. 

THICK  WIND. 

THICK  WIND  is  the  horseman's  term  for  any  defective  respira- 
tion, unaccompanied  by  a  noise,  or  by  the  signs  of  emphysema  just 
alluded  to.  It  usually  follows  pneumonia,  but  it  may  arise  from 


348  THE  HORSE. 

chronic  bronchitis,  occasioning  a  thickening  of  the  mucous  mem 
brane  lining  the  bronchial  tubes,  and  thus  lessening  their  diameter, 
or  it  may  accompany  phthisis  when  the  deposit  of  tubercles  is  ex- 
tensive. No  treatment  will  be  of  any  service  except  such  as  will 
aid  the  play  of  the  lungs  mechanically,  by  avoiding  overloading 
the  stomach,  as  mentioned  in  the  last  section. 

SPASM  OF  THE  DIAPHRAGM. 

SOME  HORSES,  when  at  all  distressed  by  the  severity  of  their 
gallops,  communicate  to  the  rider  a  most  unpleasant  sensation,  as 
if  some  internal  part  was  giving  a  sudden  blow  or  flap.  This  is 
not  only  a  sensation,  but  a  reality,  for  the  diaphragm  being  na- 
turally weak,  or  overstrained  at  some  previous  period,  acts  spas- 
modically in  drawing  in  the  air.  If  the  horse  thus  affected  is  rid- 
den onwards  afterwards,  he  will  be  placed  in  danger  of  suffocation 
and  death,  either  from  rupture  of  the  diaphragm,  or  from  its  cessa- 
tion to  act,  or  from  its  permanently  contracting  and  refusing  to 
give  way  during  expiration.  There  is  no  cure  for  the  weakness 
which  tends  to  produce  the  spasm,  and  all  that  can  be  done  is  to 
avoid  using  the  horse  affected  with  it  at  any  very  fast  pace,  and 
over  a  distance  of  ground.  Urgent  symptoms  may  be  relieved  by 
a  cordial-drench,  such  as  the  following  : — 

Take  of  Laudanum 6  drachms. 

Ether 1^  ounce. 

Aromatic  Spirit  of  Ammonia     .     .  3  drachms. 

Tincture  of  Ginger 3  drachms. 

Ale *  ; .     .     .     •  1  pint.     Mix. 

Or  if  there  is  any  difficulty  in  giving  a  drench,  a  ball  may  be 
made  up  and  given — 

Take  of  Carbonate  of  Ammonia    ....     1  drachm. 

Camphor £  drachm. 

Powdered  Ginger 1  drachm. 

Linseed  meal  and  boiling  water  sufficient  to  make  into  a  ball. 

Either  of  the  above  may  be  repeated  at  the  end  of  three  hours, 
if  relief  is  not  afforded.  Increased  strength  may  be  given  to  the 
diaphragm  by  regular  slow  work,  and  the  daily  mixture  of  a  drachm 
of  powdered  sulphate  of  iron  with  the  feed  of  corn. 

DISEASES  OF  THE  HEART. 

THE  HORSE  is  subject  to  inflammation  of  the  substance  of  the 
heart  (carditis)  of  a  rheumatic  nature,  and  of  the  fibro-serous  cover- 
ing (pericarditis),  but  the  symptoms  are  so  obscure  that  no  one  but 
the  professional  veterinarian  will  be  likely  to  make  them  out. 
Dropsy  of  the  heart  is  a  common  disease  in  worn-out  horses,  and 
hypertrophy,  as  well  as  fatty  degeneration,  are  often  met  with 
among  well-conditioned  animals. 


DISEASES  OF  BLOOD-VESSELS.  349 


DISEASES  OF  THE  BLOOD-VESSELS  OF  THE  CHEST 
AND  NOSE. 

THE  HORSE  IS  VERY  SUBJECT  TO  HEMORRHAGE  from  the  nose, 

coming  on  during  violent  exertion,  and  many  a  race  has  been  lost 
from  this  cause.  Fat  over-fed  horses  are  the  most  likely  to  suffer 
from  hemorrhage ;  but  most  people  are  aware  of  the  risk  in- 
curred in  over-riding  or  driving  them,  and  for  this  reason  they 
are  not  so  often  subject  to  this  accident  (for  such  it  is  rather  than 
a  disease)  as  they  otherwise  would  be.  It  is  unnecessary  to  de- 
scribe its  symptoms,  as  the  gush  of  blood  renders  it  but  too  appa- 
rent, and  the  only  point  necessary  to  inquire  into  is,  whether  the 
lungs  or  the  nasal  cavities  are  the  seat  of  the  rupture  of  the  vessel. 
In  the  former  case  the  blood  conies  from  both  nostrils,  and  is 
frothy ;  while  in  the  latter  it  generally  proceeds  from  one  only, 
and  is  perfectly  fluid.  The  treatment  should  consist  in  cooling  the 
horse  down  by  a  dose  of  physic  and  a  somewhat  lower  diet;  but  if 
the  bleeding  is  very  persistent,  and  returns  again  and  again,  a 
saturated  solution  of  alum  in  water  may  be  syringed  up  the  nostril 
daily,  or,  if  this  fails,  an  infusion  of  matico  may  be  tried,  which  is 
far  more  likely  to  succeed.  It  is  made  by  pouring  half  a  pint  of 
boiling  water  on  a  drachm  of  matico-leaves,  and  letting  it  stand  till 
cool,  when  it  should  be  strained,  and  is  fit  for  use. 

HEMORRHAGE  FROM  THE  LUNGS  is  a  far  more  serious  affair, 
and  its  control  requires  active  remedies  if  they  are  to  be  of  any 
service.  It  may  arise  from  the  existence  of  an  abscess  n  the 
lung  of  a  phthisical  nature,  which  implicates  some  consid*.  rable 
vessel;  or  it  may  be  caused  by  the  bursting  of  an  aneurism,  which 
is  a  dilatation  of  a  large  artery,  and  generally  occurs  near  the  heart. 
The  treatment  can  seldom  do  more  than  prolong  the  life  of  the 
patient  for  a  short  time,  and  it  is  scarcely  worth  while  to  enter 
upon  it.  Bleeding  from  the  jugular  vein  will  arrest  the  internal 
haemorrhage,  and  must  often  be  resorted  to  in  the  first  instance, 
and  there  are  internal  medicines  which  will  assist  it,  such  as  digi- 
talis and  matico ;  but,  as  before  remarked,  this  only  postpones  the 
fatal  termination. 


30 


350  THE  HORSE. 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
DISEASES  OF  THE  ABDOMINAL  VISCERA  AND  THEIR  APPENDAGES. 

General  remarks — Diseases  of  the  Mouth  and  Throat — Gastritis — 
Stomach  Staggers — Dyspepsia  —  Bots — Inflammation  of  the 
Bowels — Colic — Diarrhoea  and  Dysentery — Strangulation  and 
Rupture — Calculi  in  the  Bowels — Worms — Disease  of  the 
Liver — of  the  Kidneys — of  the  Bladder — of  the  Organs  of 
Generation. 

GENERAL  REMARKS. 

THOUGH  NOT  OFTEN  PRODUCING  what  in  horse-dealing  is  con- 
sidered unsoundness,  yet  diseases  of  the  abdominal  viscera  con- 
stantly lead  to  death,  and  frequently  to  such  a  debilitated  state  of 
the  body,  that  the  sufferer  is  rendered  useless.  Fortunately  for 
the  purchaser,  they  almost  always  give  external  evidence  of  their 
presence,  for  there  is  not  only  emaciation,  but  also  a  staring  coat 
and  a  flabby  state  of  the  muscles,  which  is  quite  the  reverse  of  the 
wiry  feel  communicated  to  the  hand  in  those  instances  where  the 
horse  is  "  poor  "  from  over-work  in  proportion  to  his  food.  In  the 
latter  case,  time  and  good  living  only  are  required  to  restore  the 
natural  plumpness ;  but  in  the  former,  the  wasting  will  either  go 
on  until  death  puts  an  end  to  the  poor  diseased  animal,  or  he 
will  remain  in  a  debilitated  and  wasted  condition,  utterly  unfit  for 
hard  work. 

DISEASES  OF  THE  MOUTH  AND  THROAT. 

SEVERAL  PARTS  ABOUT  THE  MOUTH  are  liable  to  inflammation, 
which  would  be  of  little  consequence  in  itself,  but  that  it  inter- 
feres with  the  feeding,  and  this  for  the  time  starves  the  horse, 
and  renders  him  unfit  for  his  work,  causing  him  to  "  quid  "  or 
return  his  food  into  the  manger  without  swallowing  it.  Such  are 
lampas.  vives  or  enlarged  glands,  barbs  or  paps,  gigs,  bladders, 
and  flaps, — all  which  are  names  given  to  the  enlargements  of  the 
salivary  ducts, — and  carious  teeth,  or  inflammation  of  their  fangs. 
Besides  these,  the  horse  is  also  subject  to  sore  throat,  and  stran- 
gles, which  are  accompanied  by  constitutional  disturbance,  and 
not  only  occasion  "  quidding,"  if  there  is  any  slight  appetite,  but 
they  are  also  generally  accompanied  by  a  loss  of  that  function. 

SORE  THROAT. — When  the  throat  inflames,  as  is  evidenced  by 
fulness  and  hardness  of  this  part,  and  there  is  difficulty  of  swal- 
lowing, the  skin  covering  it  should  immediately  be  severely  sweated, 
or  the  larynx  will  be  involved  and  irreparable  injury  done  The 
tincture  of  cantharides  diluted  with  an  equal  part  of  spirit  of  tur- 


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STRANGLES— LAMPAS.  351 

pentine  and  a  little  oil,  may  be  rubbed  in  with  a  piece  of  sponge, 
until  it  produces  irritation  of  the  skin,  which  in  a  few  hours  will 
be  followed  by  a  discharge  from  the  part.  Six  or  eight  drachms 
of  nitre  may  also  be  dissolved  in  the  water  which  the  horse  drinks, 
with  some  difficulty,  but  still,  as  he  is  thirsty,  he  will  take  it. 
Sometimes  eating  gives  less  pain  than  drinking,  and  then  the 
nitre  may  be  given  with  a  bran  mash  instead  of  the  water. 

STRANGLES. — Between  the  third  and  fifth  year  of  the  colt's  life 
he  is  generally  seized  with  an  acute  swelling  of  the  soft  parts 
between  the  branches  of  the  lower  jaw,  accompanied  by  more  or 
less  sore  throat,  cough  and  feverishness.  These  go  on  increasing 
for  some  days,  and  then  an  abscess  shows  itself,  and  finally  bursts. 
The  salivary  glands  are  often  involved,  but  the  matter  forms  in 
the  cellular  membrane  external  to  them.  The  treatment  should 
be  addressed  to  the  control  of  constitutional  symptoms  by  the 
mildest  measures,  such  as  bran  mashes  with  nitre  in  them,  abstrac- 
tion of  corn,  hay  tea,  &c.  At  the  same  time  the  swelling  should 
be  poulticed  for  one  night,  or  thoroughly  fomented  two  or  three 
times,  and  then  blistered  with  the  tincture  of  cantharides.  As 
soon  as  the  matter  can  plainly  be  felt,  it  may  be  let  out  with  a 
lancet;  but  it  is  very  doubtful  whether  it  is  not  the  best  plan  to 
permit  the  abscess  to  break.  The  bowels  should  be  gently  moved, 
by  giving  a  pint,  or  somewhat  less,  according  to  age,  of  castor  oil ; 
and  afterwards  two  or  three  drachms  of  nitre,  with  half  a  drachm 
of  tartar  emetic,  may  be  mixed  with  the  mash  twice  a  day,  on 
which  food  alone  the  colt  should  be  fed,  in  addition  to  gruel,  and 
a  little  grass  or  clover  if  these  are  to  be  had,  or  if  not,  a  few  steamed 
carrots.  The  disease  has  a  tendency  to  get  well  naturally,  but  if 
it  is  not  kept  within  moderate  bounds  it  is  very  apt  to  lay  the 
foundation  of  roaring  or  whistling.  Any  chronic  swelling  which 
is  left  behind,  may  be  removed  by  rubbing  in  a  weak  ointment  of 
biniodide  of  mercury  (one  scruple  or  half  drachm  to  the  ounce; 
see  page  300). 

LAMPAS  is  an  active  inflammation  of  the  ridges,  or  "bars,"  in 
the  hoof  of  the  mouth,  generally  occurring  in  the  young  horse 
while  he  is  shedding  his  teeth,  or  putting  up  the  tushes.  Some- 
times, however,  it  comes  on,  independently  of  this  cause,  from., 
over-feeding  with  corn  after  a  run  at  grass.  The  mucous  mem- 
brane of  the  roof  of  the  mouth  swells  so  much  that  it  projects 
below  the  level  of  the  nippers,  and  is  so  tender  that  all  hard  and 
dry  food  is  refused.  The  treatment  is  extremely  simple,  consist- 
ing in  the  scarification  of  the  part  with  a  sharp  knife  or  lancet, 
after  which  the  swelling  generally  subsides,  and  is  gone  in  a  day 
or  two;  but  should  it  obstinately  continue,  as  will  sometimes 
happen,  a  stick  of  lunar  caustic  must  be  gently  rubbed  over  the 
part  every  day  until  a  cure  is  completed.  This  is  far  better  than 


352  THE  HORSE. 

the  red-hot  iron,  which  was  formerly  so  constantly  used,  with 
good  effect  it  is  true,  and  not  accompanied  by  any  cruelty,  as  the 
mucous  membrane  is  nearly  insensible,  but  the  caustic  is  more 
rapid  and  effectual  in  stimulating  the  vessels  to  a  healthy  action, 
and  on  that  score  should  be  preferred.  If  the  lampas  is  owing  to 
the  cutting  of  a  grinder,  relief  will  be  afforded  by  a  crucial  inci- 
sion across  the  protruding  gum. 

BARBS,  PAPS,  &c. — The  swelling  at  the  mouth  of  the  ducts 
may  generally  be  relieved  by  a  dose  of  physic  and  green  food,  but 
should  it  continue,  a  piece  of  lunar  caustic  may  be  held  for  a 
moment  against  the  opening  of  the  duct  every  second  day,  and 
after  two  or  three  applications  the  thickening  will  certainly 
disappear. 

WHERE  VIVES,  or  chronically  enlarged  submaxillary  glands,  are 
met  with,  the  application  of  the  ointment  of  biniodide  of  mercury, 
according  to  the  directions  given  at  page  300,  will  almost  certainly 
cause  their  reduction  to  a  natural  state. 

GASTRITIS. 

GASTRITIS  (acute  inflammation  of  the  stcmach)  is  extremely 
rare  in  the  horse  as  an  idiopathic  disease ;  but  it  sometimes  occurs 
from  eating  vegetable  poisons  as  food,  or  from  the  wilful  introduc- 
tion of  arsenic  into  this  organ,  or,  lastly,  from  licking  off  corrosive 
external  applications,  which  have  been  used  for  mange.  The  symp- 
toms from  poisoning  will  a  good  deal  depend  upon  the  article 
which  has  been  taken,  but  in  almost  all  cases  in  which  vegetable 
poisons  have  been  swallowed,  there  is  a  strange  sort  of  drowsiness, 
so  that  the  horse  does  not  lie  down  and  go  to  sleep,  but  props  him- 
self against  a  wall  or  tree  with  his  head  hanging  almost  to  the 
ground.  As  the  drowsiness  increases  he  often  falls  down  in  his 
attempt  to  rest  himself  more  completely,  and  when  on  the  ground 
his  breathing  is  loud  and  hard,  and  his  sleep  is  so  unnaturally 
sound  that  he  can  scarcely  be  roused  from  it.  At  length  con- 
vulsions occur  and  death  soon  takes  place.  This  is  the  ordinary 
course  of  poisoning  with  yew,  which  is  sometimes  picked  up  with 
the  grass  after  the  clippings  have  dried,  for  in  its  fresh  state  the 
taste  is  too  bitter  for  the  palate,  and  the  horse  rejects  the  mouthful 
of  grass  in  which  it  is  involved.  May-weed  and  water  parsley  will 
also  produce  nearly  similar  symptoms.  The  treatment  in  each 
case  should  be  by  rousing  the  horse  mechanically,  and  at  the  same 
time  giving  him  six  or  eight  drachms  of  aromatic  spirit  of  ammonia, 
in  a  pint  or  two  of  good  ale,  with  a  little  ginger  in  it.  This  may 
be  repeated  every  two  hours,  and  the  horse  should  be  perpetually 
walked  about  until  the  narcotic  symptoms  are  completely  gone  off, 
when  a  sound  sleep  will  restore  him  to  his  natural  state. 

ARSENIC,  when  given  in  large  doses,  with  an  intention  to  destroy 


STOMACH  STAGGERS.  353 

life,  produces  intense  pain  and  thirst ; — the  former,  evidenced  by  an 
eager  gaze  at  the  flanks,  pawing  of  the  ground,  or  rolling;  and 
sometimes  by  each  of  these  in  succession.  The  saliva  is  secreted 
in  increased  quantities,  and  flows  from  the  mouth,  as  the  throat  is 
generally  too  sore  to  allow  of  its  being  swallowed.  The  breath 
soon  becomes  hot  and  fetid,  and  purging  then  comes  on  of  a  bloody 
mucus,  which  soon  carries  off  the  patient  by  exhaustion,  if  death 
does  not  take  place  from  the  immediate  effects  of  the  poison  on  the 
stomach  and  brain.  Treatment  is  seldom  of  any  avail,  the  most 
likely  remedies  being  large  bleedings,  blisters  to  the  sides  of  the 
chest,  and  plenty  of  thin  gruel  to  sheathe  the  inflamed  surface 
of  the  mucous  membrane,  which  is  deprived  of  its  epithelial 
scales. 

CORROSIVE  SUBLIMATE*  is  sometimes  employed  as  a  wash  in 
mange,  or  to  destroy  lice,  when  it  may  be  licked  off,  and  will  occa- 
sion nearly  the  same  symptoms  as  arsenic.  The  treatment  consists 
in  a  similar  use  of  thin  starch  or  gruel ;  or,  if  the  poison  has 
recently  been  given  wilfully,  of  large  quantities  of  white  of  egg. 

STOMACH   STAGGERS. 

THE  EXACT  NATURE  of  this  disease  has  never  been  clearly 
made  out,  and  it  is  now  so  rare,  that  there  is  little  chance  of  its 
being  satisfactorily  explained.  The  symptoms  would  chiefly  lead 
one  to  suppose  the  brain  to  be  implicated  ;  but  there  is  so  close  a 
sympathy  between  that  organ  and  the  stomach,  that  we  can  easily 
account  in  that  way  for  the  cerebral  manifestations.  A  theory  has 
been  propounded,  that  it  is  seated  in  the  par  vagum,  or  pneumo- 
gastric  nerve;  and  as  all  the  parts  with  which  that  nerve  is  con- 
nected are  affected,  there  is  some  ground  for  the  hypothesis  •  but 
it  is  not  supported  by  the  demonstration  of  anatomy,  simply,  per- 
haps, because  of  the  difficulty  in  the  way  of  prosecuting  the 
pathology  of  the  nerves.  The  first  onset  of  the  disease  is  marked 
by  great  heaviness  of  the  eyes,  soon  going  on  to  drowsiness ;  the 
head  dropping  into  the  manger,  even  while  feeding  is  in  progress. 
It  generally  makes  its  appearance  after  a  long  fast ;  and  it  is  sup- 
posed by  some  writers  to  be  owing  to  the  demands  made  by  the 
stomach  on  the  brain,  when  in  an  exhausted  condition  for  want  of 
its  usual  supplies.  This  theory  is  supported  by  the  fact  that,  in 
the  present  day,  when  every  horsemaster  knows  the  danger  of 
working  his  horses  without  feeding  them  at  intervals  of  five,  or  at 
most  six  hours,  the  stomach  staggers  are  almost  unknown.  Even 
when  the  disease  shows  itself  at  grass,  it  is  almost  always  mani- 

*  First. — Give  one-half  of  an  ounce  of  iodide  of  potassium  to  convert 
the  mercury  into  an  iodide  of  the  metal,  which  is  harmless  comparatively 
to  corrosive  sublimate.  Then  give  the  white  of  egg,  &c.,  spoken  of  in  the 
text. — EDITOR. 

30*  z 


354  THE  HORSE. 

fested  directly  after  the  horse  is  first  turned  out,  when  he  gorges 
himself  with  the  inuch-coveted  food,  which  has  long  been  withheld, 
and  his  brain  is  affected  in  a  manner  similar  to  that  which  follows  a 
long  fast  from  every  kind  of  food.  In  a  short  time,  if  the  affection 
of  the  brain  is  not  relieved,  that  organ  becomes  still  more  severely 
implicated,  and  convulsions  or  paralysis  put  an  end  to  the  attack. 
During  the  course  of  the  disease,  the  breathing  is  affected,  and 
there  is  generally  an  almost  total  cessation  of  the  secretions  of  bile 
and  urine,  which  may  either  be  the  cause  or  the  effect  of  the  con- 
dition of  the  brain.  With  this  state  of  uncertainty  as  to  the 
essence  of  the  disease,  it  is  somewhat  empirical  to  lay  down  any 
rules  for  its  treatment;  and,  as  I  before  remarked,  it  is  now  so 
rare,  that  they  are  scarcely  necessary.  If  care  be  taken  to  feed 
the  horse  properly,  he  will  never  suffer  from  stomach  staggers  in 
the  stable ;  and  at  grass,  the  attack  is  seldom  observed  until  he 
is  beyond  the  reach  of  any  remedies.  Still,  it  may  be  as  well  to 
observe,  that  the  usual  plan  of  proceeding  has  been  to  take  away 
blood,  so  as  to  relieve  the  brain,  and  to  stimulate  the  stomach 
to  get  rid  of  its  load,  by  the  use  of  warm  aperients,  such  as  the 
following : — 

Take  of  Barbadoes  Aloes      .'.'   «  ".     .     .     .     4  to  6  drachms. 

Tincture  of  Ginger 3  drachms. 

Dissolve  the  aloes  in  a  pint  of  hot  water,  then  add  the  tincture,  and  when 
nearly  cool  give  as  a  drench.* 

DYSPEPSIA. 

EVERY  DOMESTIC  ANIMAL  suffers  in  health  if  he  is  constantly 
fed  on  the  same  articles,  and  man  himself,  perhaps,  more  than 
they  do.  Partridges  are  relished  by  him  early  in  September,  but 
toujours  perdrix  would  disgust  the  most  inveterate  lover  of  that 
article  of  food.  Dogs  are  too  often  made  to  suffer  from  being  fed 
on  the  same  meal,  flavored  with  similar  flesh  or  broth,  from  one 
month  to  another.  It  is  well  known  that  cattle  and  sheep  must 
change  their  pasture,  or  they  soon  lose  condition  ;  and  yet  horses 
are  expected  to  go  on  eating  oats  and  hay  for  years  together  with- 
out injury  to  health;  and  at  the  same  time  they  are  often  exposed 
to  the  close  air  of  a  confined  stable,  and  to  an  irregular  amount  of 
exercise.  We  cannot,  therefore,  wonder  that  the  master  is  often 
told  that  some  one  or  other  of  his  horses  is  "  a  little  off  his  feed  ;" 
nor  should  we  be  surprised  that  the  constant  repetition  of  the 
panacea  for  this,  "  a  dose  of  physic,'7  should  at  length  permanently 
establish  the  condition  which  at  first  it  would  always  alleviate. 
It  is  a  source  of  wonder  that  the  appetite  continues  so  good  as  it 

*In  nddition  to  the  treatment,  I  would  recommend  that  from  15  to  20  drops 
of  the  tincture  of  aconite  root  he  given  to  control  the  heart's  action,  and 
thereby  the  circulation  of  the  blood. — EDITOR. 


DYSPEPSIA— BOTS.  355 

does,  in  the  majority  of  horses,  which  are  kept  in  the  stable  on 
the  same  kind  of  food,  always  from  July  to  May,  and  often 
through  the  other  months  also.  The  use  of  a  few  small  bundles 
of  vetches,  lucerne,  or  clover  in  the  spring,  is  supposed  to  be 
quite  sufficient  to  restore  tone-  to  the  stomach,  and  undoubtedly 
they  are  better  than  no  change  at  all ;  but  at  other  seasons  of  the 
year  something  may  be  done  towards  the  prevention  of  dyspepsia, 
by  varying  the  quality  of  the  hay,  and  by  the  use  of  a  few  carrots 
once  or  twice  a  week.  In  many  stables,  one  rick  of  hay  is  made 
to  serve  throughout  the  whole  or  a  great  part  of  the  year,  which 
is  a  very  bad  plan,  as  a  change  in  this  important  article  of  food  is 
as  much  required  as  a  change  of  pasture  when  the  animal  is  at 
grass.  When  attention  is  paid  to  this  circumstance,  the  appetite 
will  seldom  fail  in  horses  of  a  good  constitution,  if  they  are  regu- 
larly worked }  but  without  it,  resort  must  occasionally  be  had  to  a 
dose  of  physic.  It  is  from  a  neglect  of  this  precaution  that  so  many 
horses  take  to  eat  their  litter,  in  preference  to  their  hay ;  for  if  the 
same  animal  was  placed  in  a  straw-yard,  without  hay,  for  a  month, 
and  then  allowed  access  to  both,  there  would  be  little  doubt  that  he 
would  prefer  the  latter.  Some  horses  are  naturally  so  voracious, 
that  they  are  always  obliged  to  be  supplied  with  less  than  they 
desire,  and  they  seldom  suffer  from  loss  of  appetite;  but  delicate 
feeders  require  the  greatest  care  in  their  management.  When  the 
stomach  suffers  in  this  way,  it  is  always  desirable  to  try  what  a 
complete  change  of  food  will  do  before  resorting  to  medicine  ;  and, 
if  it  can  be  obtained,  green  food  of  some  kind  should  be  chosen, 
or  if  not,  carrots,  or  even  steamed  potatoes.  In  place  of  hay, 
sound  wheat  or  barley  straw  may  be  cut  into  chaff,  and  mixed 
with  the  carrots  and  corn;  and  to  this  a  little  malt-dust  may  be 
added,  once  or  twice  a  week,  so  as  to  alter  the  flavor.  By  con- 
tinually changing  the  food  in  this  way,  the  most  dyspeptic 
stomach  may  often  be  restored  to  its  proper  tone,  without  doing 
harm  with  one  hand  while  the  other  is  doing  good,  as  is  too  often 
the  case  with  medicine.  The  use  of  the  fashionable  "  horse- 
feeds  "  of  the  present  day  will  serve  the  same  purpose ;  and  if 
the  slight  changes  I  have  mentioned  do  not  answer,  Thorley's  or 
Henri's  food  may  be  tried  with  great  probability  of  success. 

BOTS. 

THE  LARVAE  of  the  oestrus  equi,  a  species  of  gadfly,  are  often 
found  in  large  numbers,  attached  by  a  pair  of  hooks  with  which 
they  are  provided,  to  the  cardiac  extremity  of  the  stomach ;  they 
are  very  rarely  met  with  in  the  true  digestive  portion  of  this 
organ,  but  sometimes  in  the  duodenum  or  jejunum  in  small  numbers. 
A  group  of  these  larvae,  which  are  popularly  called  bots,  are  repre- 
sented on  the  next  page,  but  sometimes  nearly  all  the  cardiac  ex- 


356  THE  HORSE. 


tremity  of  the  stomach  is  occupied  with  them,  the  interstices  being 
occupied  by  little  projections  which  are  caused  by  those  that  have 
let  go  their  hold,  and  have  been  expelled  with  the  food.  Several 
of  these  papillae  are  shown  on  the  engraving,  which  delineates  also 
the  appearance  of  the  bots  themselves,  so  that  no  one  can  fail  to 
recognise  them  when  he  sees  them.  This  is  important,  for  it  often 


FlG.   18. — ORODP  OF  BOTS   ATTACHED  TO  THE  STOMACH. 

happens  that  a  meddlesome  groom  when  he  sees  them  expelled 
from  or  hanging  to  the  verge  of  the  anus,  as  they  often  do  for  a 
short  time,  thinks  it  necessary  to  use  strong  medicine ;  whereas  in 
the  first  place  he  does  no  good,  for  none  is  known  which  will  kill 
the  larva  without  danger  to  the  horse,  and  in  the  second,  if  he  will 
only  have  a  little  patience,  every  bot  will  come  away  in  the  natural 
course  of  things,  and  until  the  horse  is  turned  out  to  grass,  during 
the  season  when  the  oestrus  deposits  its  eggs,  he  will  never  have 
another  in  his  stomach. 

THE  CESTRUS  EQUI  comes  out  from  the  pupa  state  in  the  middle 
and  latter  part  of  summer,  varying  according  to  the  season,  and 
the  female  soon  finds  the  proper  nidus  for  her  eggs  in  the  hair  of 
the  nearest  horse  turned  out  to  grass.  She  manages  to  glue  them 
to  the  sides  of  the  hair  so  firmly  that  no  ordinary  friction  will  get 
rid  of  them,  and  her  instinct  teaches  her  to  select  those  parts 
within  reach  of  the  horse's  tongue,  such  as  the  hair  of  the  fore 
legs  and  sides.  Here  they  remain  until  the  heat  of  the  sun  hutches 
them,  when,  being  no  larger  in  diameter  than  a  small  pin,  each 
larva  is  licked  off  and  carried  down  the  gullet  to  the  stomach,  to 
the  thick  epithelium  of  which  it  soon  attaches  itself  by  its  hooks. 
Here  it  remains  until  the  next  spring,  having  attained  the  size 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BOWELS.  357 

which  is  represented  in  the  engraving  during  the  course  of  the 
first  two  months  of  its  life,  and  then  it  fulfils  its  allotted  career, 
by  letting  go  and  being  carried  out  with  the  dung.  On  reaching 
the  outer  air  it  soon  assumes  the  chrysalis  condition,  and  in  three 
or  four  weeks  bursts  its  covering  to  become  the  perfect  insect. 

FROM  THIS  HISTORY  it  will  be  evident  that  no  preventive 
measures  will  keep  off  the  attacks  of  the  fly  when  the  horse  is  at 
grass,  and,  indeed,  in  those  districts  where  they  abound,  they  will 
deposit  their  ova  in  the  hair  of  the  stabled  horse  if  he  is  allowed 
to  stand  still  for  a  few  minutes.  The  eggs  are,  however,  easily 
recognised  in  any  horse  but  a  chestnut,  to  which  color  they  closely 
assimilate,  and  as  they  are  never  deposited  in  large  numbers  on 
the  stabled  horse  they  may  readily  be  removed  by  the  groom. 
Unlike  other  parasites,  they  seem  to  do  little  or  no  harm,  on 
account  of  the  insensible  nature  of  the  part  of  the  stomach  to 
which  they  are  attached,  and,  moreover,  their  presence  is  seldom 
discovered  until  the  season  of  their  migration,  when  interference 
is  uncalled  for.  On  all  accounts,  therefore,  it  is  unnecessary  to 
enter  into  the  question,  whether  it  is  possible  to  expel  them;  and 
even  if  by  chance  one  comes  away  prematurely  it  will  be  wise  to 
avoid  interfering  by  attempting  to  cause  the  expulsion  of  those  left 
behind. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BOWELS. 

(Peritonitis  and  Enteritis.') 

A  REFERENCE  to  the  cut  of  the  abdomen  and  its  contents,  oppo- 
site page  278,  will  explain  that  there  are  two  divisions  of  the 
abdominal  serous  sac,  one  of  which  lines  the  walls  of  the  cavity, 
and  the  other  covers  the  viscera  which  lie  in  it.  In  human  medi- 
cine, when  the  former  is  inflamed,  the  disease  is  termed  peritonitis, 
and  when  the  latter  is  the  subject  of  inflammatory  action  it  is 
called  enteritis.  But  though  in  theory  this  distinction  is  made,  in 
practice  it  is  found  that  the  one  seldom  exists  without  the  other 
being  developed  to  a  greater  or  less  extent.  Veterinary  writers 
have  generally  taken  the  nomenclature  adopted  in  human  ana- 
tomy and  pathology,  but  in  regard  to  the  inflammations  of  the 
bowels  they  define  peritonitis  as  inflammation  of  the  peritoneal  or 
serous  coat,  and  enteritis  as  inflammation  of  the  muscular  coat. 
My  own  belief  is,  that  during  life  it  is  impossible  by  any  known 
symptoms  to  distinguish  the  exact  locale  of  any  inflammation  of 
the  bowels  but  that  of  their  mucous  lining,  which  will  presently 
be  described,  and  that  wherever  the  actual  serous  covering  of  the 
bowels  is  involved  the  muscular  fibres  beneath  it  will  be  implicated, 
but  that  the  serious  and  fatal  symptoms  manifested  in  such  cases 
are  not  dependent  upon  the  latter,  but  are  due  entirely  to  the 
lesions  of  the  serous  coat.  I  have  examined  numberless  fatal 


358  THE  HORSE. 

cases  of  supposed  enteritis,  and  have  uniformly  found  signs  of 
inflammation  of  the  serous  investment,  sometimes  implicating  the 
muscular  fibres  beneath,  and  often   extending  to  the  peritoneal 
lining  of  the  walls  of  the  abdomen,  but  I  have  never  yet  seen 
marks  of  inflammation  in  the  muscular  tissue  without  their  serous 
covering  being  affected  to  a  much  greater  extent.     I  believe  there- 
fore that  the  distinction  is  erroneously  founded,  and  that,  theoreti- 
cally, the  same  definition  should  be  made  of  the  two  diseases  as  is  in 
use  by  human  pathologists,  though  practically  this  is  of  little  im- 
portance.    There  is  no  well  made  out  inflammation  of  muscular 
tissue  (except  that  of  the  heart)  in  which  the  symptoms  are  so 
urgent  and  so  rapidly  followed  by  a  fatal  issue  as  in  the  latter  stages 
of  the  disease  described  by  Mr.  Percivall  under  the  head  enteritis, 
as   follows: — "The  next  stage  borders   on  delirium.       The   eye 
acquires  a  wild,  haggard,  and  unnatural  stare — the  pupil  dilates — 
his  heedless  and  dreadful  throes  render  approach  to  him  quite 
perilous,  he  is  an  object  not  only  of  compassion  but  of  apprehen- 
sion, and  seems  fast  hurrying  to  his  end — when  all  at  once,  in  the 
midst  of  agonizing  torments  he  stands  quiet,  as  though  every  pain 
had  left  him  and  he  were  going  to  recover.     His  breathing  becomes 
tranquillized — his    pulse    sunk  beyond  all   perception — his  body 
bedewed  with  a  cold  clammy  sweat — he  is  in  a  tremor  from  head 
to  foot,  and  about  the  legs  and  ears  has  even  a  dead-like  feel.     The 
mouth  feels  deadly  chill — the  lips  drop  pendulous,  and  "the  eye 
seems  unconscious  of  objects.     In  fine,  death,  not  recovery,  is  at 
hand.     Mortification  has  seized  the  inflamed  bowel — pain  can  no 
longer  be  felt  in  that  which  a  few  minutes  ago  was  the  seat  of 
most  exquisite  suffering.     He  again  becomes  convulsed,  and  in  a 
few   more   struggles   less   violent  than   the  former  he   expires." 
Analogy  would  lead  any  careful  pathologist  to  suppose  that  such 
symptoms  as  these  are  due  to  some  lesion  of  a  serous  and  not  a 
muscular  tissue,  and,  as  I  before  remarked,  I  have  satisfied  myself 
that  such  is  really  the  case.     I  have  seen  lymph,  pus,  and  serum 
effused  in  some  cases  of  enteritis,  and  mortification  extending  to  a 
large  surface  of  the  peritoneal  coat  in  others,  but  I  have  never 
examined  a  single  case  without  one  or  the  other  of  these  morbid 
results.     It  may  be  said  that  so  long  as  the  symptoms  are  correctly 
described    their   exact   seat   is    of  no    consequence ;    but  in  this 
instance  it  is  probable  that  the  ordinary  definition  of  enteritis  as  an 
inflammation  of  the  muscular  coat  may  lead  to  a  timid  practice  in 
its  treatment,  which  would  be  attended  with  the  worst  results.     I 
have   no   fault  to   find  with   the   usual  descriptions   of  the  two 
diseases,  or  with  their  ordinary  treatment,  but  I  protest  against 
the  definition  which  is  given  of  them. 

AN  EXAMINATION  OP  THE  CAUSE  of  inflammation  of  the  bowels 
is  the  only  means  by  which  the  one  form  can  be  distinguished 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BOWELS.  359 

from  the  other.  If  it  has  been  brought  about  from  exposure  to 
cold,  or  from  over-stimulating  medicines  given  for  colic,  the  proba- 
bility is  that  the  serous  covering  of  the  intestines  themselves  is 
chiefly  involved  ;  while  if  it  has  followed  castration  it  may  gener- 
ally be  concluded  that  the  peritoneal  lining  of  the  abdominal 
muscles  has  taken  on  inflammatory  action  by  an  immediate  exten- 
sion from  the  serous  lining  of  the  inguinal  canal,  which  is  con- 
tinuous with  it.  In  each  case,  however,  the  symptoms  are  as 
nearly  as  may  be  the  same,  and  without  knowing  the  previous 
history  I  believe  no  one  could  distinguish  the  one  disease  from  the 
other — nor  should  the  treatment  vary  in  any  respect. 

THE  SYMPTOMS  of  peritoneal  inflammation  vary  in  intensity, 
and  in  the  rapidity  of  their  development,  but  they  usually  show 
themselves  in  the  following  order : — At  first  there  is  simple  loss  of 
appetite,  dulness  of  eye,  and  a  general  uneasiness,  which  are  soon 
followed  by  a  slight  rigor  or  shivering.  The  pulse  becomes  rapid, 
but  small  and  wiry,  and  the  horse  becomes  very  restless,  pawing 
his  litter,  and  looking  back  at  his  sides  in  a  wistful  and  anxious 
manner.  In  the  next  stage  all  these  signs  are  aggravated ;  the 
hind  legs  are  used  to  strike  at  but  not  touch  the  belly ;  antl  the 
horse  lies  down,  rolls  on  his  back  and  struggles  violently.  The 
pulse  becomes  quicker  and  harder,  but  is  still  small.  The  belly  is 
acutely  tender  and  hard  to  the  touch,  the  bowels  are  costive,  and 
the  horse  is  constantly  turning  round,  moaning,  and  regarding  his 
flanks  with  the  most  anxious  expression  of  countenance.  Next 
conies  on  the  stage  so  graphically  described  by  Mr.  Percivall  in 
the  passage  which  I  have  quoted,  the  whole  duration  of  the  attack 
being  from  twelve  to  forty-eight  hours  in  acute  cases,  and  extend- 
ing to  three  or  four  days  in  those  which  are  denominated  sub- 
acute. 

In  the  treatment  of  this  disease,  as  in  all  those  implicating  serous 
membrane,  blood  must  be  taken  largely,  and  in  a  full  stream,  the 
quantity  usually  required  to  make  a  suitable  impression  being 
from  six  to  nine  quarts.  The  belly  should  be  fomented  with  very 
hot  water,  by  two  men  holding  against  it  a  doubled  blanket,  dipped 
in  that  fluid,  which  should  be  constantly  changed,  to  keep  up  the 
temperature.  The  bowels  should  be  back-raked,  and  the  follow- 
ing drench  should  be  given  every  six  hours  till  it  operates,  which 
should  be  hastened  by  injections  of  warm  water. 

Take  of  Linseed  oil 1  pint. 

Laudanum 2  ounces. 

If  the  first  bleeding  does  not  give  relief  in  six  or  eight  hours,  it 
must  be  repeated  to  the  extent  of  three  or  four  quarts,  and  at  the 
same  time  some  liquid  blister  may  be  rubbed  into  the  skin  of  the 
abdomen,  continuing  the  fomentations,  at  short  intervals,  under 


360  THE  HORSE. 

that  part,  which  will  hasten  its  operation.  The  diet  should  be  con- 
fined to  thin  gruel  or  bran  mashes,  and  no  hay  should  be  allowed 
until  the  severity  of  the  attack  has  abated.* 

To  DISTINGUISH  this  disease  from  colic  is  of  the  highest  import- 
ance, and  for  this  purpose  it  will  be  necessary  to  describe  the 
symptoms  of  the  latter  disease,  so  as  to  compare  the  two  together. 

COLIC. 

IN  THIS  DISEASE  there  is  spasm  of  the  muscular  coat  of  the 
intestines,  generally  confined  to  the  caecum  and  colon.  Various 
names  have  been  given  to  its  different  forms,  such  as  the  fret,  the 
gripes,  spasmodic  colic,  flatulent  colic,  &c  ,  but  they  all  display  the 
above  feature,  and  are  only  modifications  of  it,  depending  upon 
the  cause  which  has  produced  it.  In  spasmodic  colic,  the  bowels 
are  not  unnaturally  distended,  but  in  flatulent  colic  their  distension 
by  gas  brings  on  the  spasm,  the  muscular  fibres  being  stretched  to 
so  great  an  extent  as  to  cause  them  to  contract  irregularly  and 
with  a  morbid  action.  Sometimes,  when  the  bowels  are  very  cos- 
tive, irritation  is  established  as  an  effort  of  nature  to  procure  the 
dislod*gment  of  the  impacted  faecal  matters,  and  thus  a  third  cause 
of  the  disease  is  discovered.  The  exact  nature  and  cause  are 
always  to  be  ascertained  from  the  history  of  the  case,  and  its 
symptoms,  and  as  the  treatment  will  especially  be  conducted  with 
a  view  to  a  removal  of  the  cause,  they  are  of  the  highest  import- 
ance. The  symptoms  in  all  cases  of  colic,  by  which  it  may  be 
distinguished  from  the  last-described  disease,  are  as  follows  :  In 
both  acute  pain  is  manifested  by  stamping,  looking  at  the  flanks, 
and  rolling ;  but  in  enteritis  the  pain  is  constant,  while  in  colic, 
there  are  intervals  of  rest,  when  the  horse  seems  quite  easy,  and 
often  begins  to  feed.  In  both  the  poor  animal  strikes  at  his  belly; 
but  in  the  former  he  takes  great  care  not  to  touch  the  skin,  while 
in  the  latter  (colic)  he  will  often  bring  the  blood  by  his  desperate 
efforts  to  get  rid  of  his  annoyance.  In  enteritis  the  belly  is  hot 
and  exquisitely  tender  to  the  touch,  but  in  colic  it  is  not  unnatur- 
ally warm,  and  gradual  pressure  with  a  broad  surface,  such  as  the 
whole  hand,  always  is  readily  borne,  and  generally  affords  relief. 
The  pulse  also  is  little  affected  in  colic;  and,  lastly,  the  attack  is 
very  much  more  sudden  than  in  peritoneal  inflammation. 

SUCH  ARE  THE  GENERAL  SIGNS  by  which  a  case  of  colic  may  be 
distinguished  from  inflammation  of  the  bowels,  but  beyond  this  it 
is  necessary  to  investigate  whether  it  is  pure  spasmodic  colic,  or 
produced  by  flatulence,  or  by  an  obstruction  in  the  bowels. 

*  Do  not  bleed,  but  substitute  for  it  20  drops  of  the  tincture  of  aconite 
root  every  3  hours  till  4  to  5  doses  are  given,  and  allow  pure  air  with  plenty 
of  cold  water  to  drink. — EDITOR. 


COLIC.  361 

IN  SPASMODIC  COLIC  all  the  above  symptoms  are  displayed  with- 
out any  great  distension  of  the  abdomen  ;  and  if  the  history  .j>f  the 
case  is  gone  into,  it  will  be  found  that  after  coming  in  heated  the 
horse  has  been  allowed  to  drink  cold  water,  or  has  been  exposed 
in  an  exhausted  state  to  a  draught  of  air. 

IN  FLATULENT  COLIC  the  abdomen  is  enormously  distended ;  the 
attack  is  not  so  sudden,  and  the  pain  is  not  so  intense,  being  rather 
to  be  considered,  in  the  average  of  cases,  as  a  high  degree  of  un- 
easiness, occasionally  amounting  to  a  sharp  pang,  than  giving  the 
idea  of  agony.  In  aggravated  attacks,  the  distension  is  so  enor- 
mous as  to  leave  no  doubt  of  the  nature  of  the  exciting  cause. 
Here  also  the  spasms  are  often  brought  on  by  drinking  cold  water 
while  the  horse  is  in  a  heated  and  exhausted  state. 

WHERE  THERE  is  A  STOPPAGE  IN  THE  BOWELS  to  cause  the 
spasm,  on  questioning  the  groom,  it  will  be  found  that  the  dung 
for  some  days  has  been  hard  and  in  small  lumps,  with  occasional 
patches  of  mucus  upon  it.  In  other  respects  there  is  little  to  dis- 
tinguish this  variety  from  the  last. 

The  treatment  must  in  all  cases  be  conducted  on  a  totally  differ- 
ent plan  to  that  necessary  when  inflammation  is  present.  Bleeding 
will  be  of  no  avail,  at  all  events  in  the  early  stages,  and  before  the 
disease  has  gone  on,  as  it  sometimes  will,  into  an  inflammatory 
condition.  On  the  other  hand,  stimulating  drugs,  which  would  be 
fatal  in  enteritis,  will  here  generally  succeed  in  causing  a  return 
of  healthy  muscular  action.  The  disease  is  indeed  similar  in  its 
essential  features  to  cramp  in  the  muscles  of  the  human  leg  or 
arm,  the  only  difference  being  that  it  does  not  as  speedily  dis- 
appear, because  it  is  impossible  to  get  at  the  muscular  coat  of  the 
intestines,  and  apply  the  stimulus  of  friction. 

As  SOON  AS  A  CASE  IS  CLEARLY  MADE  OUT  TO  BE  OF  A  SPAS- 
MODIC NATURE,  one  or  other  of  the  following  drenches  should  be 
given,  the  choice  being  made  in  proportion  to  the  intensity  of  the 
symptoms : — 

1.  Sulphuric  Ether 1  ounce. 

Laudanum 2  ounces. 

Compound  decoction  of  Aloes 5  ounces. 

Mix  and  give  every  half  hour  until  relief  is  afforded. 

2.  Spirit  of  Turpentine 4  ounces. 

Linseed  Oil        12  ounces. 

Laudanum 1*  ounce. 

Mix  and  give  every  hour  till  the  pain  ceases. 

3.  Aromatic  Spirit  of  Ammonia Ij  ounce. 

Laudanum 2  ounces. 

Tincture  of  Ginger l£  ounce. 

Hot  Ale 1  quart. 

Mix  and  give  every  hour. 


362  THE  HORSE. 

Hot  water  should  also  be  applied  to  the  abdomen,  as  described 
under  the  head  of  Enteritis,  and  if  an  enerna  pump  is  at  hand, 
large  quantities  of  water,  at  a  temperature  of  1006  Fahrenheit, 
should  be  injected  per  anum,  until  in  fact  the  bowel  will  hold  no 
more  without  a  dangerous  amount  of  force. 

IN  FLATULENT  COLIC  the  same  remedies  may  be  employed,  but 
the  turpentine  mixture  is  here  especially  beneficial.  The  use  of 
warm  water  injections  will  often  bring  away  large  volumes  of  wind, 
which  at  once  affords  relief,  and  the  attack  is  cured.  Sometimes, 
however,  the  distension  goes  on  increasing,  and  the  only  chance 
of  recovery  consists  in  a  puncture  of  the  caecum,  as  it  lies  high  in 
the  right  flank,  where,  according  to  French  veterinary  writers,  it 
may  often  be  opened  when  greatly  distended,  without  dividing  the 
serous  covering.  The  operation,  however,  should  only  be  per- 
formed by  an  experienced  hand,  as  it  is  one  of  great  danger,  and 
a  knowledge  of  the  anatomy  of  the  parts  concerned  is  required  to 
select  the  most  available  situation. 

THE  TREATMENT  OF  IMPACTION  must  be  completely  a  pos- 
teriori, for  all  anterior  proceedings  with  aperient  medicines  will 
only  aggravate  the  spasms.  Injection  of  gallons  of  warm  water, 
or  of  gruel  containing  a  quart  of  castor  oil  and  half  a  pint  of  spirit 
of  turpentine,  will  sometimes  succeed  in  producing  a  passage,  and 
at  the  same  time  the  spasm  may  be  relieved  by  the  exhibition  at 
the  mouth  of  one  ounce  of  laudanum  and  the  same  quantity  of 
sulphuric  ether.  If  there  is  any  tenderness  of  the  abdomen,  or 
the  pulse  has  a  tendency  to  quicken,  it  will  be  better  to  resort  to 
bleeding,  which  alone  will  sometimes  cause  the  peristaltic  action 
to  be  restored  in  a  healthy  manner.  The  case,  however,  requires 
great  patience  and  judgment,  and  as  no  great  good  can  often  be 
effected,  it  is  highly  necessary  to  avoid  doing  harm,  which  can 
hardly  be  avoided  if  the  remedies  employed  are  not  at  once  suc- 
cessful. 

WHEN  THE  URGENT  SYMPTOMS  of  colic  in  any  of  its  forms  are 
relieved,  great  care  must  be  exercised  that  a  relapse  does  not  take 
place  from  the  use  of  improper  food.  The  water  should  be  care- 
fully chilled,  and  a  warm  bran  mash  should  be  given,  containing  in  it 
half  a  feed  of  bruised  oats.  Nothing  but  these  at  moderate  inter- 
vals, in  the  shape  of  food  or  drink,  should  be  allowed  for  a  day 
or  two,  and  then  the  horse  may  gradually  return  to  his  customary 
treatment,  avoiding,  of  course,  everything  which  may  appear  to 
have  contributed  to  the  development  of  colic. 

DIARRHOEA  AND  DYSENTERY. 

A  DISTINCTION  is  attempted  to  be  made  between  these  two  dis- 
eases,— the  former  name  being  confined  to  an  inflammation  of  the 
mucous  membrane  of  the  small  intestines,  while  the  latter  is  said 


DIARRH(EA  AND  DYSENTERY.  363 

to  reside  in  the  large.  It  is  very  difficult,  however,  if  not  impos- 
sible, to  distinguish  the  one  from  the  other  by  the  symptoms  dur- 
ing life,  and  in  ordinary  practice  they  may  be  considered  as  one 
disease,  the  treatment  depending  in  great  measure  on  the  exciting 
cause.  This  in  most  cases  is  to  be  found  in  the  use  of  too  violent 
"  physic, "  or  in  not  resting  the  horse  after  it  has  begun  to  act 
until  some  hours  after  it  has  completely  "  set."  Sometimes  it 
depends  on  the  cells  of  the  colon  having  long  been  loaded  with 
faeces,  which  causes,  at  length,  their  mucous  lining  to  inflame,  the 
consequent  secretion  having  a  tendency  to  loosen  them  and  pro- 
cure their  dismissal,  either  by  solution  or  by  the  forcible  contrac- 
tion of  the  muscular  coat.  This  last  disease  is  known  by  the  name 
of  "  molten  grease"  to  old-fashioned  farriers,  the  clear  mucus  which 
envelopes  the  lumps  of  faeces  being  supposed  to  be  derived  from 
the  internal  fat  that  is  generally  plentifully  developed  in  the  highly 
fed  horses  that  are  especially  subject  to  the  attack.  For  practical 
purposes,  therefore,  we  may  consider  the  different  forms  under  the 
head  of  superpurgation,  diarrhoea,  and  dysentery,  meaning  by  the 
last  name  that  condition  which  is  brought  about  by  and  attended 
with  a  discharge  of  lumps  of  hard  faecal  matter  enveloped  in 
mucus. 

SUPERPURGATION  is  sometimes  so  severe  as  to  place  a  delicate 
horse  in  great  danger.  When  the  action  of  the  bowels  has  gone 
on  for  three  or  four  days  consecutively,  and  there  is  no  disposition 
to  "  set/'  the  eyes  become  staring  and  glassy,  the  pulse  is  feeble, 
and  the  heart  flutters  in  the  most  distressing  manner ;  the  mouth 
has  a  peculiarly  offensive  smell,  the  tongue  being  pale  and  covered 
with  a  white  fur  having  a  brown  centre.  The  abdomen  is  gene- 
rally tucked  tightly  up,  but  in  the  later  stages  large  volumes  of 
gas  are  evolved,  and  it  becomes  tumid. 

The  treatment  should  consist  in  the  exhibition  of  rice,  boiled 
till  quite  soft,  and  if  not  taken  voluntarily,  it  should  be  given  as  a 
drench,  mixed  into  a  thin  liquid  form  with  warm  water.  If  the 
case  is  severe,  one  or  two  ounces  of  laudanum  may  be  added  to  a 
quart  of  rice  milk,  and  given  every  time  the  bowels  act  with  vio- 
lence. Or  a  thin  gruel  may  be  made  with  wheat  meal,  and  the 
laudanum  be  mixed  with  that  instead  of  the  rice.  A  perseverance 
in  these  remedies  will  almost  invariably  produce  the  desired  effect, 
if  they  have  not  been  deferred  until  the  horse  is  very  much  ex- 
hausted, when  a  pint  of  port  wine  may  be  substituted  for  the 
laudanum  with  advantage. 

IN  DIARRHCEA  resulting  from  cold,  or  over-exertion,  the  treat- 
ment should  be  exactly  like  that  prescribed  for  superpurgation, 
but  it  will  sometimes  be  necessary  to  give  chalk  in  addition  to  the 
remedies  there  alluded  to.  The  rice  or  flour-milk  may  be  admin- 


364  THE  HORSE. 

istered  as  food,  and  the  following  drench  given  by  itself  every 
time  there  is  a  discharge  of  liquid  faeces  : — 

Take  of  Powdered  Opium 1  drachm. 

Tincture  of  Catechu     .     .     ...  Bounce. 

Chalk  Mixture 1  pint. 

Mix  and  give  as  a  drench. 

During  the  action  of  these  remedies  the  body  must  be  kept 
warm  by  proper  clothing,  and  the  legs  should  be  encased  in  flan- 
nel bandages,  previously  made  hot  at  the  fire,  and  renewed  as  they 
become  cold. 

IN  DYSENTERY  (or  molten  grease)  it  is  often  necessary  to  take 
a  little  blood  away,  if  there  is  evidence  of  great  inflammation  in 
the  amount  of  mucus  surrounding  the  faeces,  and  when  aperient 
medicine  does  not  at  once  put  a  stop  to  the  cause  of  irritation  by 
bringing  the  lumps  away  from  the  cells  of  the  colon.  Back-raking, 
and  injections  of  two  ounces  of  laudanum  and  a  pint  of  castor  oil 
with  gruel,  should  be  adopted  in  the  first  instance,  but  they  will 
seldom  be  fully  efficient  without  the  aid  of  linseed  oil  given  by  the 
mouth.  A  pint  of  this,  with  half  a  pint  of  good  castor  oil,  will 
generally  produce  a  copious  discharge  of  lumps,  and  then  the  irri- 
tation ceases  without  requiring  any  further  interference. 

Whenever  there  is  diarrhoea  or  dysentery  present  to  any  extent, 
rice-water  should  be  the  sole  drink. 

STRANGULATION  AND  RUPTURE. 

MECHANICAL  VIOLENCE  is  done  to  the  stomach  and  bowels  in 
various  ways,  but  in  every  case  the  symptoms  will  be  those  of 
severe  inflammation  of  the  serous  coat,  speedily  followed  by  death, 
if  not  relieved  when  relief  is  possible.  Sometimes  the  stomach  is 
ruptured  from  over-distension— at  others  the  small  intestines  have 
been  known  to  share  the  same  fate,  but  the  majority  of  cases  are 
due  to  strangulation  of  a  particular  portion  of  the  bowels,  by  being 
tied  or  pressed  upon  by  some  surrounding  band.  This  may  hap- 
pen either  from  a  loop  of  bowel  being  forced  through  an  opening 
in  the  mesentery  or  mesocolon,  or  from  a  band  of  organized  lymph, 
the  result  of  previous  inflammation — or  from  one  portion  of  the 
bowels  forcing  itself  into  another,  like  the  inverted  finger  of  a 
glove,  and  the  included  portion  being  firmly  contracted  upon  by 
the  exterior  bowel,  so  as  to  produce  dangerous  pressure  (intussus- 
ception), or,  lastly,  from  a  portion  or  knuckle  of  intestine  forcing 
its  way  through  an  opening  in  the  walls  of  the  abdomen,  and  then 
called  hernia  or  rupture,  which  being  pressed  upon  by  the  edges 
of  the  opening  becomes  strangulated,  and  if  not  relieved  inflames, 
and  then  mortifies.  None  of  these  cases  are  amenable  to  treat- 
ment (and  indeed  they  cannot  often  be  discovered  with  certainty 
during  life,  the  symptoms  resembling  those  of  enteritis),  except 


CALCULI  IN  THE  JOWELS.  365 

strangulated  hernia,  which  should  be  reduced  either  by  the  pres- 
sure of  the  hands,  or  by  the  aid  of  an  operation  with  the  knife — 
which  will  be  described  under  the  chapter  which  treats  of  the  seve- 
ral operations.  Whenever  inflammation  of  the  bowels  is  attended 
with  obstinate  constipation,  the  walls  of  the  abdomen  should  be 
carefully  examined,  and  especially  the  inguinal  canal,  scrotum,  and 
navel,  at  which  points  in  most  cases  the  hernia  makes  its  appear- 
ance. A  swelling  at  any  other  part  may,  however,  contain  a 
knuckle  of  intestine,  which  has  found  its  way  through  the  abdo- 
minal parietes  in  consequence  of  a  natural  opening  existing  there, 
or  of  one  having  been  made  by  some  accidental  puncture  with  a 
spike  of  wood  or  iron.  The  swelling  is  generally  round,  or  nearly 
so,  and  gives  a  drum-like  sound  on  being  tapped  with  the  fingers. 
It  feels  hard  to  the  touch  in  consequence  of  the  contents  being 
constricted,  but  it  gives  no  sensation  of  solidity,  and  may  be  gene- 
rally detected  by  these  signs.  None  but  an  educated  hand  can, 
however,  be  relied  on  to  distinguish  a  ventral  hernia  from  any 
other  tumor.  When  it  occurs  at  the  scrotum  or  navel  the  case  is 
clear  enough. 

CALCULI  IN  THE  BOWELS. 

A  STOPPAGE  IN  THE  BOWELS  sometimes  obstinately  persists,  in 
spite  of  all  kinds  of  remedies,  and,  death  taking  place,  it  is  found 
on  examination  that  a  large  calculus  has  blocked  up  the  area  of 
the  canal.  Sometimes  one  of  these  calculi  is  found  in  the  stomach, 
but  this  is  extremely  rare.  On  making  a  section  they  are  found 
to  consist  of  concentric  layers  of  bran,  chaff,  and  other  hard  par- 
ticles of  the  food,  mixed  generally  with  some  small  proportion  of 
earthy  matter,  and  arranged  around  some  foreign  body,  such  as  a 
piece  of  stone  from  the  corn,  or  the  head  of  a  nail.  Treatment  is 
out  of  the  question,  as  it  is  impossible  to  discover  the  calculus 
during  life,  and  even  if  it  could  be  ascertained  to  exist,  no  remedy 
is  known  for  it.  Those  who  are  curious  about  the  composition  of 
these  calculi,  will  be  pleased  with  the  following  letter  by  Mr.  Buck- 
land,  surgeon  to  the  1st  Life  Guards,  in  reply  to  an  inquiry  made 
in  The  Field  as  to  the  composition  of  a  calculus  found  in  a  horse 
belonging  to  a  correspondent : — 

"  Mr.  C.  Pemberton  Carter  having,  in  his  interesting  letter,  re- 
quested me  to  throw  some  light  upon  this  subject,  I  have  great 
pleasure  in  giving  what  little  information  I  am  able  to  afford,  with 
apologies  for  delay,  as  Aldershot  camp  is  by  no  means  a  favorable 
spot  for  scientific  investigations  or  literary  pursuits.  As  regards 
the  actual  composition  of  calculi  such  as  he  has  sent,  we  learn 
from  the  catalogue  of  the  museum  of  the  Royal  College  of  Sur- 
geons that  they  are  composed  for  the  most  part  of  the  phosphate 
of  magnesia  and  ammonia,  with  small  quantities  of  phosphate  of 
31  * 


366  THE  HORSE. 

lime.  They  also  contain  an  animal  and  extractive  matter,  to  which 
the  brown  color  of  the  calculus  is  owing.  They  also  contain  mu- 
riates of  soda,  and  various  alkaline  salts  derived  from  the  intestinal 
juices.  The  animal  matter  resembles  that  of  all  other  concretions, 
and  separates  in  concentric  laminae  when  the  calculus  is  dissolved 
in  an  acid.  In  more  impure  varieties,  grains  of  sand,  portions  of 
hay,  straw,  &c.,  are  frequently  found  imbedded  in  the  calculus, 
and  there  is  one  specimen  in  the  museum  which  contains  an  entire 
layer  of  vegetable  hairs.  Mr.  Carter  remarks  that  '  his  impression 
is  that  the  calculus  is  made  up  of  bran'  (chemically  speaking). 
He  is  not  far  wrong,  for  we  read  in  the  College  catalogue,  '  Most 
authorities  agree  that  these  calculi  are  formed  from  phosphate  of 
magnesia,  contained  in  wheat,  oats.,  Jiay^  &c.,  and  this  opinion  de- 
rives confirmation  from  the  circumstance  that  they  occur  most  fre- 
quently in  millers'  and  brewers'  horses,  which  are  fed  upon  grains, 
bran,  and  substances  known  to  contain  a  much  larger  proportion 
of  magnesian  salts  than  other  vegetable  matters/  Mr.  Carter  has 
detected  minute  portions  of  wheat,  oats,  and  hay  in  the  calculus, 
which  therefore  may  be  said  to  consist  of  two  substances,  viz.,  the 
vegetable  and  the  mineral.  So  much,  then,  for  the  composition 
of  the  calculus;  now  for  its  mechanical  structure.  Most  decidedly 
it  may  be  compared  to  an  onion,  layer  being  packed  over  layer,  so 
as  in  section  to  present  a  ringed  appearance.  We  may  also  liken 
it  to  other  objects.  It  has  lately  struck  me  to  examine  the  struc- 
ture of  a  common  cricket-ball,  which  combines  hardness,  light- 
ness, and  elasticity  in  such  an  admirable  way.  Upon  making  a 
section,  I  found  the  cricket-ball  to  be  composed  of  layers,  one  over 
the  other,  round  a  central  nucleus.  The  layers  are  composed  of 
leather,  alternated  with  a  vegetable  fibre,  the  nucleus  being  a  bit 
of  cork.  The  calculus  in  the  horse  is  formed  in  a  similar  way. 
The  nucleus  in  Mr.  Carter's  specimen  is  a  bit  of  flint;  in  a  capital 
instance  I  have  in  my  own  collection,  of  a  common  shot,  about 
No.  5  size,  which  has  been  crushed  by  the  horse's  teeth,  and  sub- 
sequently swallowed;  in  another  instance,  of  a  chair  nail  of  brass; 
in  another  of  a  single  oat-seed ;  in  another  of  a  minute  bit  of 
cinder,  and  so  on,  as  it  seems  to  be  absolutely  necessary  that  these 
calculi  should  have  a  commencement — a  starting-point.  Where 
is  the  school-boy  who  can  make  a  gigantic  snowball  without  be- 
ginning with  a  small  lump  of  snow  or  a  stone,  as  a  nucleus  upon 
which  he  builds  all  the  rest  ? 

"  Mr.  Carter  seems  to  wonder  at  the  weight  of  the  specimen,  5 
Ibs. ;  this  is  by  no  means  a  large  size;  in  the  museum  of  the 
Royal  College  of  Surgeons  we  have  a  very  fine  collection  of  cal- 
culi, the  largest,  taken  from  the  intestines  of  a  horse,  weighs  no 
less  than  17  Ibs.,  and  is  about  the  size  and  shape  of  an  ordinary 
skittle-ball.  In  the  case  where  this  is  contained  he  will  see  many 


CALCULI  IN  THE  BOWELS— WORMS.  367 

other  specimens,  cut  in  sections  to  show  the  nuclei;  ht  will  ob- 
serve that  calculi  also  form  in  the  intestines  of  the  camel  and  of 
the  elephant,  and  even  in  the  wild  horse,  for  there  is  a  good  speci- 
men from  the  intestines  of  a  Japanese  wild  horse.  Stones,  not 
true  calculi,  are  sometimes  found  in  animals,  which  have  been 
actually  swallowed  by  them,  and  have  not  been  chemically  formed 
in  this  walking  laboratory.  There  is  a  case  containing  several 
pebbles — thirty  in  number — found  in  the  stomach  of  a  cow  at 
Barton-under-Needwood,  Burton-on-Trent.  These  stones  belong 
to  the  geological  formation  of  the  neighborhood ;  it  is  curious  to 
see  how  they  have  been  acted  on  by  the  action  of  the  stomach,  for 
they  are  highly  glazed  and  polished.  I  have  seen  specimens  of 
gravel  pebbles  which  I  took  from  the  gizzard  of  an  ostrich,  which 
are  as  highly  polished  as  an  agate  marble.  The  bird  swallowed 
the  stones  to  assist  its  digestion;  the  cow  out  of  a  morbid  appe- 
tite. I  know  of  a  somewhat  similar  instance  that  lately  happened: 
A  young  lady  was  taken  ill,  and  died  of  very  strange  symptoms ; 
it  was  subsequently  ascertained  that  the  stomach  was  quite  filled 
with  human  hair,  which  had  moulded  itself  into  the  shape  of  the 
interior  of  that  organ.  The  poor  girl  had  naturally  very  long  and 
beautiful  hair,  and  she  had  an  unfortunate  habit  of  catching  the 
loose  hairs  with  her  lips  and  swallowing  them ;  in  time  they  felted 
together,  became  a  solid  mass,  and  killed  her — a  warning  to  other 
young  ladies  which  should  not  be  neglected.  In  the  lower  animals 
we  frequently  find  rolled  balls  of  hair  from  the  creatures  licking 
themselves.  I  have  seen  one  at  Bristol  from  a  lioness  ;  it  is  formed 
of  hairs  licked  with  her  rough  tongue  from  her  cubs.  Curious 
concretions  are  found  in  goats,  &c..  called  '  bezoar'  stones  ;  they 
were  formerly  supposed  to  have  medicinal  virtues  :  of  this  at  an- 
other time.  F.  T.  BUCKLAND." 

WORMS. 

INTESTINAL  WORMS  in  the  horse  are  chiefly  of  two  species,  both 
belonging  to  the  genus  ascaris.  Bots,  as  inhabiting  the  stomach, 
have  already  been  described  with  that  organ ;  and,  moreover,  they 
should  never  be  confounded  with  what  are  called  properly  and 
scientifically,  "  worms."  Of  these,  the  larger  species  resembles 
the  common  earthworm  in  all  respects  but  color,  which  is  a  pinkish 
white.  It  inhabits  the  small  intestines,  though  it  is  sometimes, 
but  very  rarely,  found  in  the  stomach.  The  symptoms  are  a  rough, 
staring,  hollow  coat — a  craving  appetite — more  or  less  emaciation — 
the  passage  of  mucus  with  the  faeces,  and  very  often  a  small  por- 
tion of  this  remains  outside  the  anus,  and  dries  there.  That  part 
generally  itches,  and  in  the  attempt  to  rub  it  the  tail  is  denuded 
of  hair ;  but  this  may  arise  from  vermin  in  it,  or  from  mere  irri- 
tation of  the  anus  from  other  causes.  When  these  several  symp- 


368  THE  HORSE. 

toms  are  combined,  it  may  with  some  degree  of  certainty  be  sup- 
posed that  there  are  worms  in  the  intestines,  but  before  proceeding 
to  dislodge  them,  it  is  always  the  wisest  plan  to  obtain  proof  posi- 
tive of  their  existence,  by  giving  an  ordinary  dose  of  physic,  when, 
on  watching  the  evacuations,  one  or  more  worms  may  generally  be 
discovered  if  they  are  present.  When  the  case  is  clearly  made 
out  the  plan  of  treatment  is  as  follows  : — 

Take  of  Tartar  Emetic* 1  drachm. 

Powdered  Ginger     . ^  drachm. 

Linseed  Meal  sufficient  to  make  into  a  ball  with  boiling  water. 

One  should  be  given  every  morning  for  a  week,  then  a  dose  of 
physic ;  linseed  oil  being  the  most  proper.  Let  the  stomach  rest 
a  week;  give  another  course  of  balls  and  dose  of  physic,  after 
which  let  the  horse  have  a  drachm  of  sulphate  of  iron  (powdered) 
twice  a  day  with  his  feed  of  corn. 

There  is  no  medicine  which  is  so  effectual  for  removing  worms 
in  the  horse  as  tartar  emetic,  and  none  which  is  so  entirely  innocu- 
ous to  the  stomach.  Calomel  and  spirit  of  turpentine  were  formerly 
in  use  as  vermifuges,  but  they  are  both  dangerous  drugs ;  the 
former,  if  given  for  any  length  of  time,  causing  great  derangement 
of  the  stomach  and  liver ;  and  the  latter  often  producing  consi- 
derable inflammation  after  a  single  dose,  if  sufficiently  large  to 
cause  the  expulsion  of  the  worms.  Linseed  oil  given  in  half-pint 
doses  every  morning  is  also  an  excellent  vermifuge,  but  not  equal 
to  the  tartar  emetic.  If  this  quantity  does  not  relax  the  bowels 
it  may  be  increased  until  they  are  rendered  slightly  more  loose 
than  usual,  but  avoiding  anything  like  purgation. 

The  smaller  species  of  intestinal  worm  chiefly  inhabits  the  rec- 
tum, but  is  occasionally  found  in  the  colon  and  caecum.  It  pro- 
duces great  irritation  and  uneasiness,  but  has  not  the  same  preju- 
dicial effect  on  the  health  as  the  larger  parasite.  It  is  about  one 
to  two  inches  in  length,  and  somewhat  smaller  in  diameter  than  a 
crow  quill.  These  worms  are  commonly  distinguished  as  ascarides, 
but  both  this  species  and  the  round  worm  belong  to  the  genus 
ascaris.  The  term  thread  worm  is  more  correctly  applied,  as  they 
are  not  unlike  sections  of  stout  thread  or  cotton.  The  only  symp- 
tom by  which  their  presence  can  be  made  out  is  the  rubbing  of 
the  tail,  when  if,  on  examination,  no  vermin  or  eruption  is  found 
in  the  dock,  it  may  be  presumed  that  worms  exist  in  the  rectum. 
The  remedy  for  these  worms  is  by  the  injection  every  morning  for 
a  week  of  a  pint  of  linseed  oil,  containing  two  drachms  of  spirit  of 
turpentine.  This  will  either  kill  or  bring  away  the  worms,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  which  are  driven  by  it  higher  up  into  the 

*  Omit  the  Tartar  Emetic,  and  substitute  2  drachms  of  powdered  Sul- 
phate of  Iron. — EDITOR. 


DISEASES  OF  THE  LIVER  AND  KIDNEYS.  369 

colon,  but  by  waiting  a  week  or  ten  days  (during  which  time  they 
will  have  re-entered  the  rectum)  and  then  repeating  the  process, 
they  may  generally  be  entirely  expelled.  The  sulphate  of  iron 
must  be  given  here,  as  before  described. 

DISEASES  OF  THE  LIVER. 

THE  LIVER  OF  THE  HORSE  is  less  liable  to  disease  than  that  of 
any  other  domestic  animal,  and  the  symptoms  of  its  occurrence 
are  so  obscure  that  it  is  seldom  until  a  post-mortem  examination 
that  a  discovery  is  made  of  its  existence.  This  unerring  guide, 
however,  informs  us  that  the  liver  is  sometimes  unnaturally  en- 
larged and  hard,  at  others  softened,  and  in  others  again  the  sub- 
ject of  cancerous  deposits.  It  is  also  attacked  by  inflammation, 
of  which  the  symptoms  are  feverishness ;  rapid  pulse,  not  hard  and 
generally  fuller  than  usual;  appetite  bad;  restlessness,  and  the 
patient  often  looking  round  to  his  right  side  with  an  anxious  ex- 
pression, not  indicative  of  severe  pain.  Slight  tenderness  of  the 
right  side;  but  this  not  easily  made  out  satisfactorily.  Bowels 
generally  confined,  but  there  is  sometimes  diarrhoaa.  Very  fre- 
quently the  whites  of  the  eyes  show  a  tinge  of  yellow,  but  any- 
thing like  jaundice  is  unknown.  The  treatment  must  consist  in 
the  use  of  calomel  and  opium,  with  mild  purging,  thus  : — 

Take  of  Calomel, 

Powdered  Opium,  of  each  one  drachm. 

Linseed  Meal  and  boiling  water  enough  to  make  into  a  ball, 
which  should  be  given  night  and  morning.  Every  other  day 
a  pint  of  Linseed  Oil  should  be  administered. 

The  diet  should  if  possible  be  confined  to  green  food,  which  will  do 
more  good  than  medicine ;  indeed,  in  fine  weather,  a  run  at  grass 
during  the  day  should  be  preferred  to  all  other  remedies,  taking 
care  to  shelter  the  horse  at  night  in  an  airy  loose-box. 

DISEASES  OF  THE  KIDNEYS. 

THESE  ORGANS  are  particularly  prone  to  disease,  and  are  subject 
to  inflammation ;  to  diabetes,  or  profuse  staling ;  to  haematuria,  or 
a  discharge  of  blood,  and  to  torpidity,  or  inaction. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  KIDNEYS  (nephritis)  is  generally  pro- 
duced by  an  exposure  of  the  loins  to  wet  and  cold,  as  in  carriage- 
horses  standing  about  in  the  rain  during  the  winter  season.  Some- 
times it  follows  violent  muscular  exertion,  and  is  then  said  to  be 
caused  by  a  strain  in  the  back,  but  in  these  cases  there  is  probably 
an  exposure  to  cold  in  a  state  of  exhaustion,  or  by  the  rupture  of 
a  branch  of  the  renal  artery  or  vein,  as  the  inflammation  of  one 
organ  can  scarcely  be  produced  by  the  strain  of  another.  The 
symptoms  are  a  constant  desire  to  void  the  urine,  which  is  of  a 
very  dark  color — often  almost  black.  Great  pain,  as  evidenced  by 

2A 


370  THE  HORSE. 

the  expression  of  countenance  and  by  groans,  as  well  as  by  frequent 
wistful  looks  at  the  loins.  On  pressing  these  parts  there  is  some 
tenderness,  but  not  excessive,  as  in  rheumatism.  The  pulse  is 
quick,  hard,  and  full.  The  attitude  of  the  hind  quarters  is  pecu- 
liar, the  horse  standing  in  a  straddling  position  with  his  back 
arched,  and  refusing  to  move  without  absolute  compulsion.  It  is 
sometimes  difficult  to  distinguish  nephritis  from  inflammation  of 
the  neck  of  the  bladder,  but  by  attending  to  the  state  of  the  urine, 
which  is  dark  brown  or  black  in  the  former  case,  and  nearly  of  a 
natural  color  in  the  latter,  the  one  may  be  diagnosed  from  the 
other.  To  make  matters  still  more  clear,  the  oiled  hand  may  be 
passed  into  the  rectum,  when  in  nephritis  the  bladder  will  be  found 
contracted  and  empty  (the  urine  being  so  pungent  as  to  irritate 
that  organ),  while  in  inflammation  or  spasm  of  its  neck,  it  will  be 
distended,  often  to  a  large  size.  The  treatment  to  be  adopted  must 
be  active,  as  the  disease  runs  a  very  rapid  course,  and  speedily  ends 
in  death  if  neglected.  A  large  quantity  of  blood  must  at  once  be 
taken.  The  skin  must  be  acted  on  energetically,  so  as  to  draw  the 
blood  to  its  surface,  and  if  a  Turkish  bath  (see  page  215)  is  at 
hand,  it  will  be  highly  beneficial.  If  not,  the  application  of  hot 
water,  as  recommended  at  page  342,  may  be  tried,  and  in  many 
cases  it  has  acted  like  a  charm.  Failing  the  means  for  carrying 
out  either  of  these  remedies,  the  loins  should  be  rubbed  with  an 
embrocation  consisting  of  olive  oil,  liquid  ammonias  and  laudanum 
in  equal  parts,  but  cantharides  and  turpentine  must  be  carefully 
avoided,  as  likely  to  be  absorbed,  when  they  would  add  fuel  to  the 
fire.  A  fresh  sheepskin  should  be  warmed  with  hot  (not  boiling) 
water,  and  applied  over  the  back,  and  the  liniment  should  be 
rubbed  in  profusely  every  hour,  restoring  the  skin  to  its  place  im- 
mediately afterwards.  Mustard  is  sometimes  used  instead  of  am- 
monia, and  as  it  is  always  at  hand,  it  may  form  a  good  substitute, 
but  it  is  not  nearly  so  powerful  an  irritant  to  the  skin  as  the  latter, 
especially  when  evaporation  is  prevented  by  the  sheepskin,  or  by 
a  piece  of  any  waterproof  article.  A  mild  aperient  may  be  given, 
linseed  oil  being  the  best  form,  but  if  the  bowels  continue  ob- 
stinate, and  it  is  necessary  to  repeat  it,  eight  or  ten  drops  of  croton 
oil  may  be  added  to  a  pint  of  the  oil,  great  care  being  taken  to 
assist  its  action  by  raking  and  injection,  the  latter  being  also  use- 
ful as  a  fomentation  to  the  kidneys.  The  diet  should  consist  of 
scalded  linseed  and  bran  mashes,  no  water  being  allowed  without 
containing  sufficient  linseed  tea  to  make  it  slightly  glutinous,  but 
not  so  much  so  as  to  nauseate  the  patient.  If  the  symptoms  are 
not  greatly  abated  in  six  or  eight  hours,  the  bleeding  must  be  re- 
peated, for  upon  this  remedy  the  chief  dependence  must  be  placed. 
A  mild  and  soothing  drench,  composed  of  half  an  ounce  of  car- 
bonate of  soda,  dissolved  in  six  ounces  of  linseed  tea,  may  be  given 


DISEASES  OF  THE  KIDNEYS.  371 

every  six  hours,  but  little  reliance  can  be  placed  upon  it.  The 
inflammation  either  abates  after  the  bleeding,  or  the  horse  dies  in 
a  very  few  hours. 

DIABETES  of  late  years  has  been  much  more  frequent  than  was 
formerly  the  case,  and  especially  among  race-horses  and  hunters, 
probably  owing  to  the  enormous  quantities  of  corn  which  they  are 
allowed  in  the  present  day.  But  whatever  may  be  the  cause,  the 
symptoms  are  clear  enough,  the  horse  constantly  staling  and  pass- 
ing large  quantities  of  urine  each  time.  The  treatment  should  be 
conducted  on  the  principle  that  the  cause  should  if  possible  be 
ascertained  and  removed.  Mowburnt  hay  will  often  bring  on  dia- 
betes, and  new  oats  have  a  similar  tendency  in  delicate  horses.  In 
any  case  it  is  wise  to  make  a  total  change  in  the  food  as  far  as  it 
can  possibly  be  done.  Green  meat  will  often  check  it  at  once,  and 
a  bran-mash  containing  a  few  carrots  has  a  similar  chance  of  doing 
good.  With  these  alterations  in  the  quality  of  the  food  attention 
should  also  be  paid  to  the  quantity  of  the  corn,  which  should  be 
reduced  if  more  than  a  peck  a  day  has  been  given,  and  beans  should 
be  substituted  for  a  part  of  the  oats.  Half  a  drachm  of  the  sul- 
phate of  iron  (powdered)  should  be  mixed  with  each  feed  (that  is, 
four  times  a  day),  and  the  horse  should  be  well  clothed  and  his  legs 
warmly  bandaged  in  a  cool  and  airy  (but  not  cold  and  draughty) 
loose  box.  By  attention  to  these  directions  the  attack  may  gener- 
ally be  subdued  in  a  few  days,  but  there  is  always  a  great  tendency 
to  its  return.  Should  it  persist  in  spite  of  the  adoption  of  the 
measures  already  recommended,  the  following  ball  may  be  tried  : — 

Take  of  Gallic  Acid        \  drachm. 

Opium 1  drachm. 

Treacle  and  Linseed  Meal  enough  to  make  into  a  ball,  which  should   be 
given  twice  a  day. 

HJEMATUREA,  like  diabetes,  is  easily  recognised  by  the  presence 
of  blood  in  greater  or  less  quantities  passed  with  the  urine.  It  is 
not,  however,  of  the  bright  red  color  natural  to  pure  blood,  but  it 
is  more  or  less  dingy,  and  sometimes  of  a  smoky-brown  color,  as 
occurs  in  inflammation.  Bloody  urine,  however,  may  often  be 
passed  without  any  sign  of  that  condition,  and  therefore  unaccom- 
panied by  pain,  or  any  other  urgent  symptom.  The  causes  are 
exceedingly  various.  Sometimes  a  parasitic  worm  (Strongylus 
gigas)  has  been  discovered,  after  death  from  haernaturea,  in  the 
kidney,  and  was  apparently  the  cause  of  the  mischief.  At  others, 
this  organ  has  been  found  disorganized  by  cancer  or  melanosis — 
and  again  a  sharp  calculus  has  been  known  to  bring  on  consider- 
able bleeding,  and  this  last  cause  is  by  no  means  unfrequent.  The 
symptoms  are  the  existence  of  bloody  urine  unaccompanied  by  pain 
or  irritation,  marking  the  absence  of  nephritis.  As  to  treatment, 
little  can  be  done  in  severe  cases,  and  mild  ones  only  require  rest, 


372  THE  HORSE. 

a  dose  of  physic,  and  perhaps  the  abstraction  of  three  or  four 
quarts  of  blood.  Green  food  should  be  given,  and  the  diet  should 
be  attended  to  as  for  diabetes.  If  the  urine  is  scanty,  yet  evidently 
there  is  no  inflammation,  two  or  three  drachms  of  nitre  may  be 
given  with  the  mash  at  night,  but  this  remedy  should  be  employed 
with  great  caution. 

INACTION  OP  THE  KIDNEYS  is  so  common  in  every  stable  that 
the  groom  seldom  thinks  it  necessary  even  to  inform  his  master  of 
its  occurrence.  An  ounce  of  nitre  is  mixed  and  given  with  a  bran- 
mash  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  sometimes  more  violent  diuretics 
are  resorted  to,  such  as  powdered  resin  and  turpentine.  Very 
often  the  kidneys  are  only  inactive  because  the  horse  has  not  been 
regularly  watered,  and  in  those  stables  where  an  unlimited  supply 
is  allowed  this  condition  is  comparatively  rare.  There  is  no  harm 
in  resorting  to  nitre  occasionally,  but  if  it  is  often  found  necessary 
to  employ  this  drug,  the  health  is  sure  to  suffer,  and  an  alteration 
in  the  diet  should  be  tried  in  preference.  At  all  events,  if  it  ia 
given,  the  horse  should  be  allowed  to  drink  as  much  and  as  often 
as  he  likes,  without  which  the  stimulus  to  the  kidneys  will  be 
doubly  prejudicial,  from  being  in  too  concentrated  a  form. 

DISEASES  OF  THE  BLADDER. 

THE  BLADDER  is  subject  to  inflammation  of  its  coats  or  neck- 
to  spasm — and  to  the  formation  of  calculi. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BLADDER  (cystitis)  is  not  very  common 
excepting  when  it  is  produced  by  irritants  of  a  mechanical  or  chemi- 
cal nature.  Thus,  when  the  kidneys  secrete  a  highly  irritating 
urine,  the  bladder  suffers  in  its  passage,  and  we  have  the  two 
organs  inflamed  at  the  same  time.  Again,  when  cantharides  have 
been  given  with  a  view  to  stimulate  exhausted  nature,  or  when 
they  are  absorbed  from  the  surface  of  the  skin,  as  sometimes  hap- 
pens in  blistering,  the  bladder  is  liable  to  become  inflamed.  The 
symptoms  are — a  quick  pulse — pain  in  the  hind-quarter,  evinced 
by  the  looks  of  the  animal  in  that  direction — -and  constant  strain- 
ing to  pass  the  urine,  which  is  thick  and  mixed  with  mucus,  or 
in  aggravated  cases  with  purulent  matter.  The  treatment  to  be 
adopted  if  the  case  is  severe  will  consist  in  venesection,  back-rak- 
ing, and  purgation  with  linseed  or  castor  oil,  avoiding  aloes,  which 
have  a  tendency  to  irritate  the  bladder.  Linseed  tea  should  be 
given  as  the  sole  drink,  and  scalded  linseed  mixed  with  a  bran- 
mash  as  food.  The  following  ball  may  also  be  given,  and  repeated 
if  necessary : — 

Take  of  Powdered  Opium 1  drachm. 

Tartar  emetic lj  drachm. 

To  be  made  up  into  a  ball  with  Linseed   Meal  and  boiling  water,  and 
given  every  six  hours. 


DISEASES  OF  THE  BLADDER,  ETC.  373 

RETENTION  OP  URINE  maybe  due  either  to  inflammation  of  the 
neck  of  the  bladder,  occasioning  a  spasmodic  closure  of  that  part, 
or  there  may  be  spasm  unattended  by  inflammation  and  solely  due 
to  the  irritation  of  some  .offending  substance,  such  as  a  calculus, 
or  a  small  dose  of  cantharides.  The  treatment  in  either  case  must 
be  directed  to  the  spasmodic  constriction,  which  is  generally  under 
the  control  of  large  doses  of  opium  and  camphor,  that  is,  from 
one  drachm  to  two  drachms  of  each,  repeated  every  five  or  six 
hours.  If  the  symptoms  are  urgent,  bleeding  may  also  be  resorted 
to,  and  when  the  bladder  is  felt  to  be  greatly  distended,  no  time 
should  be  lost  in  evacuating  it  by  means  of  the  catheter,  which 
operation,  however,  should  only  be  intrusted  to  a  regular  practi- 
tioner accustomed  to  its  use. 

CALCULI  IN  THE  BLADDER  are  formed  of  several  earthy  salts,  and 
present  various  forms  and  appearances,  which  may  be  comprised 
under  four  divisions.  1st.  The  mulberry  calculus,  so  named  from 
its  resemblance  to  a  mulberry,  possessing  generally  a  nucleus.  2d. 
A  very  soft  kind  resembling  fuller's  earth  in  appearance,  and  being 
chiefly  composed  of  phosphate  of  lime  and  mucus.  3d.  Calculi 
of  a  white  or  yellowish  color,  rough  externally  and  easily  friable. 
And  4th.  Those  which  are  composed  of  regular  layers,  and  which 
are  harder  than  the  second  and  third  varieties. 

The  mulberry  calculus,  from  its  extremely  rough  surface,  occa- 
sions more  irritation  than  other  forms,  but  during  life  it  is  impos- 
sible to  ascertain  the  exact  chemical  nature  of  the  calculus  which 
may  be  ascertained  to  exist.  These  calculi  sometimes  attain  an 
immense  size,  weighing  several  pounds.  The  symptoms  are  a  dif- 
ficulty of  voiding  the  urine,  which  generally  comes  away  in  jerks 
after  great  straining  and  groaning.  The  horse  remains  with  his 
legs  extended  for  some  time  afterwards,  and  evidently  indicates 
that  he  feels  as  if  his  bladder  was  not  relieved.  Often  there  is 
muco-purulent  matter  mixed  with  the  urine,  which  is  rendered 
thick  and  glutinous  thereby,  but  this  only  happens  in  cases  of  long 
standing.  The  treatment  must  be  either  palliative  or  curative.  If 
the  former,  it  should  consist  in  the  adoption  of  the  means  employed 
for  subduing  irritation  and  inflammation  of  the  bladder  which 
have  been  already  described.  The  cure  can  only  be  effected  by 
removing  the  stone.  This  requires  the  performance  of  a  difficult 
and  dangerous  operation  (lithotomy),  the  details  of  which  can  be 
only. useful  to  the  professed  veterinary  surgeon,  and  I  shall  there- 
fore omit  them  here. 

DISEASES  OF  THE  ORGANS  OF  GENERATION. 

BALANITIS,  or  inflammation  of  the  glans  penis  (ftdXavoq,  glans), 
is  very  common  in  the  horse,  being  brought  on  by  the  decomposi- 
tion of  the  natural  secretions,  when  they  have  been  allowed  to 
32 


374  THE  HORSE. 

collect  for  any  length  of  time.  At  first  there  is  merely  a  slight 
discharge  of  pus,  but  in  process  of  time  foul  sores  break  out,  and 
very  often  fungous  growths  spring  from  them,  which  block  up  the 
passage  through  the  opening  of  the  sheath,  and  cause  considerable 
swelling  and  inconvenience.  These  are  quite  distinct  from  warts, 
which  occur  in  this  part  just  as  they  do  in  other  situations.  The 
treatment  requires  some  skill  and  experience,  because  mild  reme- 
dies are  of  no  use,  and  severe  ones  are  not  unattended  with  danger. 
The  parts  must  first  of  all  be  well  cleansed  by  syringing,  or  if  the 
end  of  the  penis  can  be  laid  hold  of,  by  washing  with  a  sponge. 
The  following  wash  may  then  be  applied,  and  it  should  be  repeated 
every  day : — 

Take  of  solution  of  Chloride  of  Zinc 2  drachms. 

Water 1  pint.  Mix. 

If  the  morbid  growths  are  very  extensive,  nothing  but  amputa- 
tion of  the  penis  or  the  use  of  corrosive  sublimate  will  remove 
them.  Severe  haemorrhage  sometimes  follows  both  of  these  mea- 
sures, but  it  seldom  goes  on  to  a  dangerous  extent.  Still  it  is 
scarcely  advisable  for  any  one  but  a  professional  man  to  undertake 
the  operation. 

IN  THE  MARE  THE  VAGINA  is  sometimes  inflamed,  attended  with 
a  copious  yellow  discharge.  An  injection  of  the  wash  mentioned 
in  the  last  paragraph  will  generally  soon  set  the  matter  right.  At 
first  it  should  be  used  only  of  half  the  strength,  gradually  increas- 
ing it,  until  the  full  quantity  of  chloride  of  zinc  is  employed. 

INVERSION  OF  THE  UTERUS  sometimes  follows  parturition,  but 
it  is  very  rare  in  the  mare.  The  uterus  should  be  at  once  replaced, 
using  as  little  force  as  possible,  and  taking  care  before  the  hand 
is  withdrawn,  that  it  really  is  turned  back  again  from  its  inverted 
position. 

NYMPHOMANIA  occurs  sometimes  in  mares  at  the  time  of  being 
"  in  use/'  and  goes  on  to  such  an  extent  as  to  render  them  abso- 
lutely regardless  of  pain,  for  the  time  being,  though  not  to  make  them 
lose  their  consciousness.  They  will  kick  and  squeal  till  they  be- 
come white  with  sweat,  and  no  restraint  will  prevent  them  from 
trying  to  continue  their  violent  attempts  to  destroy  everything 
behind  them.  These  symptoms  are  especially  developed  in  the 
presence  of  other  animals  of  the  same  species,  whether  mares  or 
geldings ;  but  the  near  proximity  of  an  entire  horse  will  be  still 
worse.  If  placed  in  a  loose  box,  without  any  restraint  whatever, 
they  generally  become  more  calm,  and  when  the  state  is  developed, 
such  a  plan  should  always  be  adopted.  It  is  chiefly  among  highly- 
fed  and  lightly-worked  mares  that  the  disease  is  manifested ;  and 
a  dose  of  physic  with  starvation  in  a  loose  box,  away  from  any 
other  horse,  will  very  soon  put  an  end  to  it  in  almost  every  instance. 


MAD  STAGGERS— EPILEPSY.  375 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
DISEASES  OF  THE  NERVOUS  SYSTEM. 

Phrenitis,  or  Mad  Staggers — Epilepsy  and  Convulsions — Megrims 
— Rabies,  Hydrophobia,  or  Madness — Tetanus,  or  Lock-jaw — 
Apoplexy  and  Paralysis — String  Halt — Coup  de  Soleil,  or  Sun 
stroke. 

PHRENITIS,  OR  MAD  STAGGERS. 

PHRENITIS  seldom  occurs,  except  in  over-fed  and  lightly-worked 
horses,  nor  among  them  is  it  by  any  means  a  common  dis- 
ease. The  early  symptoms  are  generally  those  of  an  ordinary 
cold ;  there  is  heaviness  of  the  eyes,  with  a  redness  of  the  con- 
junctiva, and  want  of  appetite.  After  a  day  or  two  occupied  by 
these  premonitory  signs,  which  will  seldom  serve  to  put  even  the 
most  experienced  observer  on  his  guard,  the  horse  becomes  sud- 
denly delirious,  attempting  to  bite  and  strike  every  one  who  comes 
near  him,  regardless  of  the  ordinary  influences  of  love  and  fear. 
He  plunges  in  his  stall,  attempts  to  get  free  from  his  halter  rein,  and 
very  often  succeeds  in  doing  so,  when  he  will  stop  at  nothing  to 
gain  still  further  liberty.  If  unchecked  he  soon  dashes  himself  to 
pieces,  and  death  puts  an  end  to  his  struggles.  The  only  treat- 
ment which  is  of  the  slightest  use  is  bleeding  till  the  horse  abso- 
lutely falls,  or  till  he  becomes  quite  quiet  and  tractable,  if  the  case 
is  only  a  mild  one.  Immediately  afterwards  a  large  dose  of  tartar 
emetic  (two  or  three  drachms)  should  be  given,  followed  in  an 
hour  or  two  by  a  strong  physic  ball ;  or,  if  the  case  is  a  very  bad 
one,  by  a  drench,  containing  half  a  pint  of  castor  oil  and  six  or 
eight  drops  of  croton  oil.  Clysters  and  back-raking  will  of  course 
be  required,  to  obviate  the  risk  of  hard  accumulations  in  the 
bowels,  but  where  there  is  great  violence,  they  cannot  always  be 
employed  and  the  case  must  take  its  chance  in  these  respects. 
The  diet  should  be  confined  to  a  few  mouthfuls  of  hay  or  grass, 
with  a  plentiful  supply  of  water.* 

EPILEPSY  AND  CONVULSIONS. 

THESE  DISEASES,  or  symptoms  of  disease,  are  not  often  met 
with  in  the  adult,  but  in  the  foal  they  sometimes  occur,  and  are 
not  unattended  with  danger.  The  young  thing  will  perhaps  gallop 
after  its  dam  round  and  round  its  paddock,  and  then  all  at  once  stop, 

*  No  treatment,  however  well  directed,  will  be  of  any  use.  The  better 
way  will  be  to  shoot  the  horse  at  once,  before  he  has  a  chance  of  destroying 
the  stable  and  other  property  within  his  reach. — EDITOR. 


376  THE  HORSE. 

stagger,  and  fall  to  the  ground,  where  it  lies,  struggling  with  more 
or  less  violence,  for  a  few  minutes  or  longer,  and  then  raises  its 
head,  stares  about  it,  gets  up,  and  is  apparently  as  well  as  ever. 
It  is  generally  in  the  hot  days  of  summer  that  these  attacks  occur, 
and  it  appears  highly  probable  that  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun 
playing  on  the  head  have  something  to  do  with  it.  Death  seldom 
takes  place  during  the  first  attack,  but  sometimes  after  two  or 
three  repetitions  the  convulsions  go  on  increasing,  and  the  foal 
becomes  comatose  and  dies.  A  mild  dose  of  linseed  oil  is  the  only 
remedy  which  can  safely  be  resorted  to,  and  as  it  is  supposed  that 
worms  will  sometimes  produce  these  convulsive  attacks,  it  is  on  that 
account  to  be  selected.  Epilepsy  is  so  very  rarely  met  with  in 
the  adult  and  of  its  causes  and  treatment  so  little  is  known,  that 
I  shall  not  trouble  my  readers  with  any  account  of  them.* 

MEGRIMS. 

THIS  TERM  is  used  to  conceal  our  ignorance  of  the  exact  nature 
of  several  disordered  conditions  of  the  brain  and  heart.  In  fact,  any 
kind  of  fit,  not  attended  with  convulsions,  and  only  lasting  a  short 
time,  is  called  by  this  name.  The  cause  may  be  a  fatty  condition  of 
the  heart,  by  which  sudden  faintness  and  sometimes  death  are  pro- 
duced, or  it  may  consist  in  congestion  of  the  vessels  of  the  brain, 
arising  from  over  work  on  a  hot  day,  or  from  the  pressure  of  the 
collar,  or  from  disease  of  the  valves  of  the  heart.  Attacks  reputed 
to  be  megrims  have  been  traced  to  each  of  these  causes,  and  as  in 
every  case,  the  horse,  while  apparently  in  good  health,  staggers 
and  falls,  and  after  lying  still  for  a  minutes  (during  which  there 
is  seldom  an  opportunity  of  examining  the  state  of  the  circulation) 
rises  as  well  as  before,  there  is  no  chance  of  distinguishing  the  one 
from  the  other.  The  most  usual  symptoms  are  the  following  : — The 
horse  is  perhaps  trotting  along,  when  all  at  once  he  begins  shaking 
his  head  as  if  the  bridle  chafed  his  ears,  which  are  drawn 
back  close  to  the  poll.  The  driver  gets  down  to  examine  these 
facts,  and  observes  the  eyelids  quivering,  and  the  nostrils  affected 
with  a  trembling  kind  of  spasm.  Sometimes  the  rest  will  allow 
of  the  attack  going  off,  but  most  frequently,  the  head  is  drawn  to 
one  side,  the  legs  of  that  half  of  the  body  seem  to  be  paralyzed, 
and  the  horse  making  a  segment  of  a  circle  goes  down,  lies  a  few 
minutes  on  the  ground,  and  then  rises  as  if  nothing  had  happened 
beyond  a  light  sweating,  and  disturbance  of  the  respiration.  Treat- 
ment can  be  of  little  avail,  however,  unless  a  correct  diagnosis  is 
made,  for  remedies  which  would  be  suited  to  congestion  would  be 
prejudicial  to  a  diseased  heart.  If  the  attack  has  happened  while 

*  Cerebro-spinal  meningitis  of  some  New  York  writers,  will  be  found 
treated  of  in  our  note  on  chapter  on  "  Fevers,"  article"  Typhoid  Fever" — 
the  so-called  choking  distemper. — EDITOR. 


HYDROPHOBIA.  377 

in  harness,  the  collar  should  always  be  carefully  inspected,  and  if 
at  all  tight  it  should  be  replaced  by  a  deeper  one.  A  diseased 
state  of  the  valves  of  the  heart  ought  to  be  discoverable  by 
auscultation,  but  it  requires  a  practised  ear  to  do  this,  and  the 
directions  for  ascertaining  its  presence  are  beyond  the  scope  of  this 
book.  The  only  plan  which  can  safely  be  adopted,  is  to  take  the 
subject  of  megrims  quietly  home  to  his  stable,  and  carefully  ex- 
amine into  the  condition  of  all  his  functions  with  a  view  to  im- 
prove the  action  of  any  organ  which  appears  to  be  out  of  order, 
whatever  it  may  be.  If  all  seems  to  be  going  on  well — if  the  appe- 
tite is  good,  and  the  heart  acts  with  regularity  and  with  due  force, 
while  the  brain  seems  clear,  and  the  eye  is  not  either  dull  or  suf- 
fused with  blood — nothing  should  be  attempted,  but  the  horse 
being  subject  to  a  second  attack,  as  proved  by  manifold  experience, 
should  be  put  to  work  in  which  no  great  danger  can  be  appre- 
hended from  them.  He  is  not  safe  in  any  kind  of  carriage,  for  it  can 
never  be  known  where  the  fall  will  take  place;  and  as  a  saddle- 
horse  he  is  still  more  objectionable,  and  should  therefore  be  put  to 
some  commercial  purpose,  in  executing  which,  if  he  falls,  the  only 
injury  he  can  effect  is  to  property,  and  not  to  human  life. 

BABIES,  HYDROPHOBIA  OR  MADNESS. 

ONE  REASON  ONLY  can  be  given  for  describing  this  disease, 
which  is  wholly  beyond  the  reach  of  art;  but  as  the  horse  attacked 
by  it  is  most  dangerous,  the  sooner  he  is  destroyed  the  better ;  and 
for  this  reason,  every  person  who  is  likely  to  have  any  control  over 
him,  should  be  aware  of  the  symptoms.  As  far  as  is  known  at 
present,  Rabies  is  not  idiopathically  developed  in  the  horse,  but 
must  follow  the  bite  of  a  rabid  individual  belonging  to  one  or  other 
of  the  genera  canis  and  felis.  The  dog,  being  constantly  about  our 
stables,  is  the  usual  cause  of  the  development  of  the  disease,  and 
it  may  supervene  upon  the  absorption  of  the  salivary  virus  without 
any  malicious  bite,  as  has  happened  according  to  more  than  one 
carefully  recorded  case.  The  lips  of  the  horse  are  liable  to  be 
ulcerated  from  the  action  of  the  bit,  and  there  is  reason  to  believe 
that  in  the  early  stages  of  rabies  these  parts  have  been  licked  by  a 
dog,  the  saliva  has  been  absorbed,  and  the  inoculation  has  taken 
place  just  as  it  would  do  from  any  other  wo\md.  It  is  difficult  to 
prove  that  this  is  the  true  explanation  of  those  cases  where  no  bite 
has  been  known  to  have  occurred,  but  as  the  mouth  has  in  each 
instance  been  shown  to  have  been  abraded,  there  is  some  reason 
for  accepting  it  as  such.  To  proceed,  however,  to  the  symptoms, 
Mr.  Youatt,  who  has  had  great  opportunities  for  examining  rabies, 
both  in  the  dog  and  horse,  describes  the  earliest  as  consisting  in 
"  a  spasmodic  movement  of  the  upper  lip,  particularly  of  the  angles 
of  the  lip.  Close  following  on  this,  or  contemporaneous  with  it, 
32* 


378  THE  HORSE. 

are  the  depressed  and  anxious  countenance,  and  inquiring  gaze, 
suddenly,  however,  lighted  up,  and  becoming  fierce  and  menacing 
from  some  unknown  cause,  or  at  the  approach  of  a  stranger.  From 
time  to  time  different  parts  of  the  frame,  the  eyes,  the  jaws,  par- 
ticular limbs,  will  be  convulsed.  The  eye  will  occasionally  wander 
after  some  imaginary  object,  and  the  horse  will  snap  again  and 
again  at  that  which  has  no  real  existence.  Then  will  come  the 
irrepressible  desire  to  bite  the  attendants  or  the  animals  within  its 
reach.  To  this  will  succeed  the  demolition  of  the  rack,  the  manger, " 
and  the  whole  furniture  of  the  stable,  accompanied  by  the  peculiar 
dread  of  water,  which  has  already  been  described.  Towards  the 
close  of  the  disease  there  is  generally  paralysis,  usually  confined  to 
the  loins  and  the  hinder  extremities,  or  involving  those  organs 
which  derive  their  nervous  influence  from  this  portion  of  the  spinal 
cord ;  hence  the  distressing  tenesmus  which  is  occasionally  seen." 
How  paralysis  can  produce  tenesmus  is  not  very  clear,  but  of  the 
very  general  existence  of  this  symptom  there  can  be  no  doubt.  The 
dread  of  water,  as  well  as  of  draughts  of  cold  air,  is  also  clearly 
made  out  to  exist  in  this  disease  (as  in  human  rabies),  and  the 
term  hydrophobia  will  serve  to  distinguish  it  better  than  in  the 
dog,  where  it  is  as  clearly  absent.  Whenever,  therefore,  these 
symptoms  follow  upon  the  bite  of  a  dog,  unless  the  latter  is  un- 
questionably in  good  health,  rabies  may  be  suspected,  and  the  bare 
suspicion  ought  always  to  lead  to  the  use  of  the  bullet,  which  is 
the  safest  way  of  killing  a  violent  horse.  There  is  only  one  disease 
(plirenitis}  with  which  it  can  be  confounded,  and  in  that  the 
absence  of  all  consciousness  and,  in  milder  cases,  of  fear,  so  that 
no  moral  control  whatever  can  be  exercised,  marks  its  nature,  and 
clearly  distinguishes  it  from  rabies,  the  victim  to  which  is  con- 
scious to  the  last,  and  though  savage  and  violent  in  the  extreme, 
is  aware  of  the  power  of  man,  and  to  some  extent  under  his 
influence. 

TETANUS— LOCK-JAW. 

TETANUS,  one  form  of  which  is  known  as  lock-jaw,  has  its  seat 
apparently  in  the  nervous  system,  but,  like  many  other  diseases  of 
the  same  class,  the  traces  it  leaves  behind  are  extremely  uncertain, 
and  are  displayed  more  on  the  secondary  organs,  through  which  it 
is  manifested,  than  on  those  which  we  believe  to  be  at  the  root  of  the 
mischief.  Thus  the  muscles,  which  have  been  long  kept  in  a  state 
of  spasm,  show  the  marks  of  this  condition  in  their  softened  and 
apparently  rotten  condition.  They  in  fact  have  had  no  interval 
of  rest,  during  which  nutrition  could  go  on,  and  have  lost  much 
of  the  peculiarity  of  structure  which  enables  them  to  contract. 
The  stomach  often  shows  marks  of  inflammation,  but  as  all  sorts 
of  violent  remedies  are  employed,  this  may  be  due  to  them  rather 
than  to  idiopathic  disease.  The  lungs  also  are  generally  congested, 


LOCK-JAW.  379 

but  here,  like  the  state  of  the  muscles,  it  may  be  a  secondary  effect 
of  the  long-continued  exertions  of  the  latter,  which  nothing  but 
the  absence  of  all  important  lesions  of  the  brain  and  spinal  cord 
would  induce  the  pathologist  to  pay  the  slightest  attention  to. 

TETANUS  may  be  either  idiopathic  or  symptomatic,  but  the 
former  condition  is  somewhat  rare.  It  almost  always  follows  some 
operation,  or  a  severe  injury  in  which  a  nerve  has  been  implicated, 
the  most  frequent  causes  being  the  piercing  of  the  sole  by  a  nail, 
or  a  prick  in  shoeing,  or  the  operations  of  docking,  nicking,  castra- 
tion, &c. 

THE  SYMPTOMS  are  a  permanent  rigidity  of  certain  voluntary 
muscles,  and  especially  of  the  lower  jaw  (whence  the  popular 
name,  lock-jaw).  The  mouth  is  kept  rigidly  shut,  the  masseter 
muscles  feeling  as  hard  as  a  deal  board.  One  or  both  sides  of  the 
neck  are  rigid,  in  the  former  case  the  head  being  turned  to  one 
side,  and  in  the  latter  stretched  out  as  if  carved  in  marble.  The 
nostrils  are  dilated  ;  the  eyes  retracted,  with  the  haws  thrust  for- 
ward over  them;  the  ears  erect  and  stiff,  and  the  countenance  as 
if  horror-struck.  At  first  the  extremities  are  seldom  involved, 
but  as  the  disease  progresses  their  control  is  first  lost,  and  then 
they  become  rigid,  like  the  neck  and  head.  The  patient  is  scarcely 
able  to  stand,  and  plants  his  feet  widely  apart  to  prop  himself  up, 
while  at  last  the  tail  also  becomes  a  fixture.  The  pulse  varies  a 
good  deal,  in  some  cases  being  quick,  small,  and  hard,  and  in 
others  slow  and  labored.  The  bowels  are  generally  costive,  and 
the  urine  scanty;  but  this  last  symptom  is  not  so  well  marked  as 
the  state  of  the  bowels  alluded  to.  The  treatment  should  be  of  a 
two-fold  nature,  partly  palliative  and  partly  curative.  Since  the 
introduction  into  use  of  chloroform  we  have  possessed  a  drug  which 
invariably  enables  us  to  remove  the  spasm  for  a  time,  and  if  it 
does  nothing  more,  it  gives  room  for  other  remedies  to  act  and 
relieve  the  patient  from  the  horrible  tortures  which  are  occasioned 
by  the  spasm,  while  it  also  allows  the  muscular  and  nervous  powers 
to  be  recruited.  When,  therefore,  a  case  of  tetanus  occurs  in  a 
horse  of  any  value,  an  apparatus  for  applying  chloroform  (described 
under  the  chapter  on  Operations)  should  be  procured,  and  the 
animal  at  once  placed  under  its  influence.  This-  done,  the  whole 
length  of  the  spine  should  be  blistered  with  tincture  of  cantharides, 
and  an  active  aperient  should  be  given,  consisting,  if  practicable, 
of  a  pint  of  castor  oil,  and  six  or  eight  drops  of  crotdn  oil.  This 
may  be  pumped  down  the  throat  by  the  usual  syringe  and  tube, 
if  the  front  teeth  can  be  separated;  but  if  this  cannot  be  done, 
some  solid  cathartic  must  be  selected,  though  there  is  often  as 
much  difficulty  in  forcing  a  ball  down  as  in  passing  an  elastic  tube. 
Failing  in  either  of  these,  two  drachms  of  calomel,  and  the  same 
quantity  of  tartar  emetic  should  be  slightly  damped,  and  placed  in 


380  THE  HORSE. 

the  mouth  as  far  back  as  possible,  in  the  hope  that  they  may  be 
gradually  swallowed;  the  bowels  should  be  raked,  and  copious 
injections  of  castor  oil  and  turpentine,  mixed  with  several  quarts 
of  gruel,  should  be  thrown  up.  If  these  remedies  fail,  nature  must 
be  left  to  her  own  resources,  and  they  will  sometimes  be  found 
equal  to  the  task,  for  many  cases  have  recovered  after  having  been 
given  up  as  beyond  the  reach  of  our  art.  Opium,  henbane, 
digitalis,  hellebore,  and  a  host  of  other  drugs  have  been  tried, 
sometimes  with,  and  sometimes  without  success,  and  perhaps  it  is 
worth  while,  after  the  bowels  have  been  well  relieved,  to  give  a 
full  dose  of  one  or  other  of  these  powerful  remedies,  such  as  two 
drachms  of  solid  opium  j  but  I  confess  that  I  think  little  reliance 
is  to  be  placed  on  them,  and  I  prefer  the  adoption  of  chloroform 
every  six  hours,  continued  for  about  two  or  three  hours  and  gra- 
dually withdrawn,  leaving  the  cure  to  the  action  of  the  blister  and 
purgatives.* 

APOPLEXY  AND  PAEALYSIS. 

USUALLY  these  are  only  different  degrees  of  the  same  disease, 
but  there  are  exceptions  in  which  the  latter  is  produced  by  some 
chronic  affection  of  the  spinal  cord  or  brain.  As  a  rule  both  de- 
pend upon  pressure  made  on  the  brain  by  an  overloaded  state  of 
thfe  vessels,  commonly  known  as  congestion,  or  by  extravasation 
of  blood,  in  which  it  escapes  from  them. 

APOPLEXY,  known  among  writers  of  the  old  school  as  sleepy 
staggers,  is  not  often  met  with  in  the  present  day,  owing  to  the 
improvement  in  the  management  of  our  stables,  and  specially  to 
their  better  ventilation.  It  is  marked  by  great  sleepiness,  from 
which  the  horse  can  be  with  difficulty  roused,  soon  going  on  to 
absolute  unconsciousness,  attended  by  a  slow  snoring  respiration, 
and  speedily  followed  by  death.  The  only  treatment  likely  to  be 
successful  is  copious  bleeding,  purgation,  and  blisters  to  the  head 
and  neck. 

PARALYSIS  is  marked  by  a  loss  of  power  over  the  muscles  of  a 
part,  and  may  be  confined  to  one  limb  or  organ  or  extend  to  more. 
It  is  a  symptom  of  pressure  on,  or  disorganization  of,  some  part  of 
the  nervous  system,  and  must  be  considered  as  such,  and  not  as  a 
disease  of  the  affected  muscles.  Thus  it  requires  a  knowledge  of 
anatomy  to  trace  it  to  its  seat,  without  which  its  treatment  would 
be  conducted  on  false  principles.  By  far  the  most  common  form 
of  paralysis  is  hemiplegia,  or  paralysis  of  the  muscles  of  the  hinder 
extremities  and  loins,  generally  arising  from  an  injury  to  the  spine. 

*  The  greatest  success  met  with  in  curing  lock-jaw  is  by  the  administra- 
tion of  30  drops  of  dilute  prussic  acid,  of  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia,  night 
and  morning,  keeping  the  horse  in  a  quiet  place.  In  violent  cases  the 
chloroform  spoken  of  in  the  text  will  be  of  advantage. — EDITOR. 


PARALYSIS— STRING  HALT.  381 

Sometimes  the  body  of  a  vertebra  is  broken,  and  the  parts  being 
separated,  their  edges  press  upon  the  spinal  cord  and  produce  the 
disease.  At  others  the  vessels  within  the  canal  have  received  a 
chock,  and  the  serous  membrane  secretes  (or  allows  to  ooze  out) 
a  bloody  fluid  which  presses  upon  the  cord,  and  produces  the  same 
effect  but  in  a  more  gradual  manner.  In  India,  a  disease  known 
there  as  Kumree  causes  paralysis  of  the  hinder  extremities,  and  is 
due  to  inflammation  of  the  membranes,  which  secrete  a  bloody 
serum.  In  this  country,  however,  paraplegia  is  very  rare  except- 
ing as  the  result  of  accident. 

WHEN  A  HORSE  FALLS  in  hunting,  and  never  moves  his  hind 
legs  afterwards,  but  lies  with  his  fore  legs  in  the  position  to  get 
up,  groaning  and  expressing  great  pain  and  distress,  it  may  be 
concluded  that  he  has  fractured  or  dislocated  his  spine  and  that 
the  case  is  hopeless.  Sometimes,  however,  after  lying  for  a  few 
seconds,  he  slowly  and  with  difficulty  rises  and  is  led  to  a  stable, 
but  after  two  or  three  hours  lies  down  and  cannot  be  got  up  again. 
Here  there  will  be  some  difficulty  in  ascertaining  whether  the  mis- 
chief is  confined  to  a  strain  of  the  muscles  or  is  situated  within 
the  vertebral  canal.  If  the  former  is  the  case  the  pain  is  extreme, 
and  generally  there  will  be  some  quivering  or  slight  spasm  of  one 
or  more  of  the  muscles  of  the  hinder  extremity,  which  feel  natu- 
rally firm,  while  in  paralysis  they  feel  soft  and  are  as  quiet  as  they 
would  be  after  death.  By  attention  to  these  signs  the  two  cases 
may  be  distinguished,  but  when  the  case  is  made  out  to  be  true 
paralysis  the  treatment  is  not  likely  (even  if  successful  in  preserv- 
ing life)  to  bring  about  a  useful  restoration  to  healthy  action.  In 
valuable  horses  an  attempt  may  be  made  by  bleeding,  physicking 
and  blistering,  to  produce  an  absorption  of  the  effused  serum  or 
blood,  but  the  recovered  animal  is  seldom  worth  the  outlay,  and 
too  often  as  soon  as  he  is  put  to  any  kind  of  work  is  subject  to  a 
relapse.*  The  most  humane  and  certainly  the  most  economical 
plan  is  to  put  him  out  of  his  misery  at  once  by  a  pistol  ball  or 
knife,  but  if  it  is  determined  to  try  what  can  be  done  towards 
effecting  a  cure,  no  better  means  can  be  adopted  than  those  I  have 
alluded  to. 

STRING  HALT. 

THIS  is  A  PECULIAR  SNATCHING  UP  of  the  hind  leg,  and  is 
supposed  to  depend  upon  some  obscure  disease  of  the  sciatic  nerve. 
It  however  is  very  doubtful  whether  this  explanation  is  well 
founded,  and  there  is  evidence  that  in  some  cases  the  hock  itself 
has  been  affected.  The  extensor  pedis  seems  to  be  the  muscle 
most  severely  implicated,  though  not  the  only  one  which  is  thrown 

*  Use  instead,  30  drops  of  the  tincture  of  mix  vomica  three  times  daily, 
turn  the  horse  from  side  to  side  twice  in  the  day  to  prevent  scalding  of  the 
skin,  and  ruh  well  over  the  loins. — EDITOR. 


382  THE  HOKSE. 

into  spasmodic  action.  No  treatment  is  of  the  slightest  avail. 
Horses  with  string  halt  are  able  to  do  any  kind  of  work,  but  it  is 
considered  to  be  a  form  of  unsoundness.* 

[SUNSTROKE— COUP  DE  SOLEIL. 

THIS  DISEASE  of  late  years  has  become  of  so  frequent  occur- 
rence, that  although  not  mentioned  by  previous  veterinary  writers,  it 
demands  a  notice  from  us.  The  chief  symptoms  are  exhaustion 
and  stupidity,  the  animal  usually  falling  to  the  ground  and  being 
unable  to  go  further. 

To  PREVENT  IT,  allow  the  horse  at  short  intervals  a  few  mouth- 
fuls  of  water,  and  fasten  a  wet  sponge  over  the  forehead.  The 
sun-shades  now  used  by  extensive  owners  of  horses,  will  go  very 
far  in  lessening  the  occurrence  of  this  affection. 

The  following  treatment,  when  attended  to  at  once,  in  the  majority 
of  cases  will  prove  effectual. 

First.  Remove  the  horse  from  the  harness  to  a  cool  shady 
place.  Second.  Give  two  ounces  of  sulphuric  ether  ;  20  drops  of  the 
tincture  of  aconite  root  and  a  bottle  of  ale  or  porter  as  a  drench  to 
sustain  the  vital  powers,  and  to  act  as  a  powerful  stimulant  in 
equalizing  the  circulation  throughout  the  body ;  whilst,  Thirdly. 
Chopped  ice  is  to  be  placed  in  a  coarse  towel,  cloth  or  bag,  and 
laid  between  the  ears^nd  over  the  forehead,  secured  in  any  way 
the  ingenuity  of  the  person  in  charge  may  suggest.  If  the  legs 
be  cold,  bandages  will  be  of  advantage.  Do  not  put  the  horse  to 
work  again  until  he  is  completely  restored.  Dumbness  is  the 
usual  result  of  sun-stroke — a  species  of  coma — for  which  there  is 
no  cure.  Horses  so  affected  are  of  little  use  in  warm  weather,  but 
are  useful  in  winter. — EDITOR.] 

*  This  affection  is  generally  observed  in  well-bred  horses  of  a  highly 
nervous  temperament,  and  is  noticed  when  the  horse  is  about  starting  ;  much 
difficulty  being  experienced  before  the  animal  gets  fairly  down  to  his  work. 
Once  under  way  the  peculiarity  entirely  disappears,  but  returns  when  another 
start  is  to  be  made.  It  rarely,  if  ever,  disqualifies  the  animal  for  any  kind 
of  work,  except  where  he  is-  liable  to  be  suddenly  called  upon  for  any  unusual 
exercise  of  power  or  speed. 

The  Editor,  in  his  previous  work  on  the  "  Diseases  in  the  American 
Stable,  Field,  and  Farm  Yard,"  says  :  "  The  causes  are  twofold.  First. 
The  loss  of  nervous  influence,  whereby  the  extensor-pedis  muscle  is  deprived 
of  its  power.  Second.  The  peculiar  anatomical  articulation  and  general 
structure  of  the  hock-joint  of  the  horse  are  such,  that  when  the  leg  of  a  dead 
horse  is  stripped  of  its  muscles  the  ligaments  are  not  disturbed  at  all ;  and  if 
the  leg,  above  and  below  the  hock,  be  caught  hold  of  by  the  hands,  and  the 
leg  straightened  out,  the  moment  the  hands  are  taken  from  it,  will  spring 
into  a  bent  position  on  the  instant,  thus  imitating  string  halt,  as  near  as  can 
be.  Thus  the  balance  of  power  is  not  equal ;  the  articulary  ligaments  of  the 
hock -joint  are  stronger  than  the  muscles  of  the  thigh.  Hence,  the  moment 
the  horse  lifts  his  foot  from  the  ground  the  leg  is  instantaneously  snatched 
up  by  the  power  of  the  ligaments." — EDITOR. 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  EYE.  383 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 

DISEASES  AND  INJURIES  OF  CERTAIN  SPECIAL  ORGANS. 

Diseases  of  the  Ear — Inflammation  of  the  Eye — Cataract — Amau- 
rosis — Buck-eye — Surfeit — Hidebound — Mange — Lice — Mai- 
lenders  and  Sallenders —  Warbles,  Sitfasts  and  Harness-  Galls — 
r  Grubs — Bites  and  Stings  of  Insects — Swelled  Legs — Chapped 
Heels — Grease  and  Scratches  —  Warts — Corns  —  Sander ack  — 
False  "Quarter — Quitter — Thrush— Canker — Laminitis — Seedy 
Toe — Contraction  of  the  Foot — Navicular  Disease — Accident* 
to  the  Legs  and  Feet. 

DISEASES  OF  THE  EAR. 

DEAFNESS  is  sometimes  met  with  in  the  horse,  but  I  know  of  no 
symptoms  by  which  its  precise  nature  can  be  made  out;  and  with- 
out ascertaining  the  seat  of  the  disease,  it  is  useless  to  attempt  to 
treat  it. 

SOMETIMES  FROM  A  BLOW  on  the  external  ear  inflammation  is 
set  up,  and  an  abscess  forms ;  but  all  that  is  necessary  is  to  open  it, 
so  that  the  matter  can  readily  flow  out  as  fast  as  it  forms,  without 
which  precaution  it  will  not  readily  heal. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  EYE. 

THIS  IMPORTANT  ORGAN  is  subject  to  three  forms  of  inflamma- 
tion, to  opacity  of  the  lens,  and  to  paralysis  of  the  nerve,  called 
amaurosis. 

SIMPLE  INFLAMMATION  is  the  most  common  of  all  the  diseases 
to  which  the  horse's  eye  is  subject,  and  it  precedes  most  of  the 
others.  It  is  always  the  result  of  any  injury  of  this  part,  or  of 
cold ;  and  it  shows  itself  if  there  is  a  tendency  to  inflammation 
of  this  organ,  whenever  the  horse  is  in  a  state  of  plethora.  The 
symptoms  are  an  intolerance  of  light,  so  that  the  eye  is  kept  half 
closed,  by  which  it  looks  smaller  than  the  other ;  a  gummy  secre- 
tion glues  the  lids  together  at  the  angles ;  the  eyelids  are  slightly 
swollen,  showing  a  distended  state  of  their  veins;  and  there  is 
more  or  less  watering  or  overflowing  of  tears.  When  the  lids  are 
separated,  their  internal  surface  looks  more  red  than  natural,  and 
the  white  of  the  eye  is  covered  with  a  net-work  of  fine  red  ves- 
sels. After  the  second  day  the  transparent  cornea  loses  its  clear- 
ness, and  becomes  muddy,  sometimes  over  the  whole  surface,  and 
at  others  in  specks.  If  the  disease  is  allowed  to  go  on  unchecked, 
the  cornea  is  involved,  and  the  lining  membrane  of  the  aqueous 
humor  follows ;  a  secretion  of  pus  takes  place  into  the  chamber, 
or  the  cornea  ulcerates,  and  the  contents  of  the  eye  escape.  The 


384  THE  HORSE. 

treatment  should  be  a  copious  bleeding  from  the  jugular  vein,  fol- 
lowed by  a  ball,  such  as — 

Take  of  Common  Physic  Ball     ......     2  drachms. 

Tartar  Emetic 1  drachm. 

Mix  and  give  every  six  hours. 

This  not  only  acts  on  the  intestines,  but  it  keeps  up  a  constant 
nausea,  and  so  tends  to  lower  the  action  of  the  heart.  The  eye 
should  be  bathed  with  warm  water  frequently;  and,  if  the  mischief 
be  severe,  a  seton  should  at  once  be  put  into  the  skin  covering  the 
upper  jaw,  about  two  inches  below  the  eye.  On  the  next  day,  if 
"  the  white"  still  looks  red,  the  bleeding  must  be  repeated ;  and, 
if  the  bowels  are  much  moved,  the  tartar  emetic  may  be  continued 
without  the  aloes,  while  if  they  are  obstinate,  the  dose  of  the  lat- 
ter may  be  increased.  When  the  acute  symptoms  have  somewhat 
diminished,  a  camePs-hair  brush  may  be  dipped  in  wine  of  opium, 
and  the  eye  gently  touched  with  it  daily,  which  will  generally  com- 
plete the  cure.  The  diet  must  be  low,  corn  being  forbidden  en- 
tirely, and  the  stable  should  be  kept  very  cool  and  airy.* 

PURULENT  OPHTHALMIA  is  confined  to  the  conjunctiva,  and  it 
may  be  recognised  by  the  profuse  discharge  of  purulent  fluid 
wKich  takes  place.  The  eyelids  are  much  swollen,  and  the  white 
of  the  eye  is  coverecLwith  a  puffy  red  membrane,  which  rises  up 
above  the  level  of  the  cornea,  sometimes  in  fungoid  excrescences. 
This  form  of  inflammation  is  generally  epidemic,  and  sometimes 
runs  through  a  stable  without  a  single  exception.  The  treatment 
should  be,  at  first,  similar  to  that  recommended  for  simple  inflam- 
mation ;  but  when  it  reaches  the  chronic  stage,  a  more  powerful 
stimulus  is  required  to  restore  the  vessels  to  a  healthy  condition. 
A  wash  composed  as  follows,  must  therefore  be  applied  : — 

Take  of  Nitrate  of  Silver          .     .     ,     .     .     .     .     .     6  grs. 

Distilled  Water 1  oz. 

Mix,  and  drop  a  little  into  the  eye  from  a  quill  daily. 

IRITIS,  or  inflammation  of  the  iris,  generally  known  as  specific 
ophthalmia,  is  the  most  formidable  of  all  the  diseases  to  which  the 
eye  is  subject,  and,  if  not  checked,  rapidly  disorganizes  it;  while 
it  also,  even  when  running  an  unusually  favorable  course,  is  very 
apt  to  produce  opacity  of  the  lens  or  its  capsule  (cataract).  This 
pest  of  the  stable  is,  undoubtedly,  often  brought  on  by  over  stimu- 
lation, nrst  of  the  whole  body,  through  the  food,  and  secondly,  of 
the  eyes  themselves,  through  the  foul  emanations  from  the  accu- 

*  The  treatment  recommended  in  the  text  is  certainly,  to  say  the  least, 
injudicious,  heroic,  and  unsound.  Apply  cold  water  cloths  to  the  eye  for  a 
day  or  two,  then  use,  rain-water  4  ounces,  nitrate  of  silver  12  grains,  and 
apply  twice  daily  with  camel's  hair  pencil  or  brush.  Allow  green  or  soft 
feed. — EDITOR. 


DISEASES  OF  THE  EYE.  385 

tnulated  urine  and  dung.  But  these  would  produce  no  such  effect 
in  a  horse,  unless  he  were  predisposed  to  ophthalmia;  and  we  find 
that  cattle  and  sheep  are  often  fed  to  an  enormous  degree  of  obe- 
sity, in  far  closer  and  worse  ventilated  stalls,  without  any  prejudi- 
cial effect  upon  their  eyes.  It  may,  then,  be  assumed,  that  these 
organs  in  a  horse  have  a  tendency  to  put  on  inflammation ;  but 
though  these  words  are  true  they  explain  nothing  of  the  real  cause, 
and  only  serve  to  conceal  our  ignorance  of  it.  There  is  another 
question  bearing  upon  this  subject,  which  is  of  the  highest  import- 
ance. Is  the  stock  of  blind  horses  more  liable  to  blindness  than 
that  of  sound  ones  ?  This  has  been  discussed  so  often,  that  it  is 
scarcely  possible  to  throw  any  fresh  light  upon  it,  chiefly  because 
it  is  so  difficult  to  rely  upon  the  facts  adduced  pro  and  con.  Blind- 
ness is  often  the  result  of  accident,  and  such  cases  are  believed  to  be 
exceptional,  and  not  at  all  likely  to  hand  down  the  disease ;  but,  on 
the  contrary,  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  many  of  them  show  a 
marked  tendency  to  its  development;  for  an  accident  never  destroys 
both  eyes,  and  when  one  follows  the  other,  it  is  a  pretty  sure  sign  that 
there  is  a  tendency  to  ophthalmia.  On  the  whole,  it  may,  I  think,  be 
assumed,  that  the  tendency  to  specific  ophthalmia  is  handed  down 
from  generation  to  generation,  and,  consequently,  that  the  offspring 
of  a  horse  who  has  gone  blind  from  that  cause  is  peculiarly  prone 
to  it.  Its  symptoms  appear  very  rapidly,  fhe  eye  having  been 
quite  right  over  night,  looks  contracted  and  almost  closed  next 
morning,  and  on  inspecting  it  closely  "  the  white"  looks  of  a  deep 
red,  the  cornea  looks  muddy,  and  the  colored  part  of  the  eye  (the 
iris)  has  lost  its  bright  color,  and  often  shows  one  or  two  white  specks 
upon  it  (these  must  not  be  confounded  with  specks  on  the  cornea). 
As  the  disease  advances,  the  intolerance  of  light  is  very  great,  the 
cornea  and  iris  become  gradually  more  muddy,  and  either  lymph 
is  thrown  out  on  the  latter  in  the  shape  of  white  patches,  or  pus 
is  secreted  and  fills  the  chamber  of  the  aqueous  humor,  in  part  or 
wholly.  If  the  treatment  is  sufficiently  energetic,  these  signs 
abate,  the  pus  or  lymph  is  absorbed,  and  the  eye  recovers  its  trans- 
parency ;  but  there  are  generally  some  traces  left  behind.  Bleed- 
ing (either  from  the  jugular  or  the  angular  veins  of  the  face), 
moderate  purging,  and  a  seton,  are  the  remedies  best  calculated  to 
effect  this  object,  conjoined  with  an  airy  stable  and  a  light  diet. 
Unfortunately,  however,  iritis  is  almost  sure  to  return  on  the 
restoration  of  the  usual  food,  and  exposure  to  the  elements ;  and 
hence  it  is  of  the  utmost  consequence  in  purchasing  a  horse  to 
examine  his  eyes  for  the  marks  left  behind  by  it.  If  the  case  is 
hopeless,  it  becomes  a  question  whether  or  not  it  will  be  wise  to 
put  an  end  to  the  inflammation  by  destroying  the  affected  eye,  for 
it  is  well  known  that  if  it  goes  on  for  any  length  of  time  the  other, 
sound  eye,  becomes  affected.  The  only  difficulty  consists  in  feel- 
33  2B 


386  THE  HORSE. 

ing  assured  that  there  is  really  no  chance  of  recovery ;  for  when 
once  the  eye  is  finally  condemned,  the  sooner  it  is  opened  and  its 
contents  evacuated,  the  sooner  will  the  horse  return  to  his  work,  and 
the  more  chance  has  the  other  eye  of  escaping.  The  operation  is 
very  simple,  and  merely  requires  a  sharp-pointed  knife  to  be  passed 
into  the  anterior  chamber  from  one  edge  of  the  cornea,  and  driven 
back  till  it  cuts  into  the  lens,  when  it  is  to  be  brought  out  on  the 
other  side  of  the  cornea,  and  the  whole  of  the  humors  will  escape 
on  making  pressure  upon  the  upper  eyelid. 

IN  INJURIES  of  the  eye,  fomentation  with  warm  water  should 
be  carried  on  for  half  an  hour,  and  then  omitted  for  three  or  four 
hours  •  after  which  it  may  be  repeated  again  and  again,  at  similar 
intervals.  Great  care  should  be  taken  to  remove  any  extraneous 
bodies,  such  as  particles  of  dust,  &c. 

CATARACT,  or  opacity  of  the  lens,  is  very  commonly  the  result 
of  iritis,  its  capsule  having  been  coated  with  a  layer  of  white  lymph, 
deposited  by  the  inflamed  vessels;  but  it  also  sometimes  makes  its 
appearance  without  being  preceded  by  any  of  the  signs  of  inflam- 
mation. In  the  former  case,  the  early  symptoms  are  those  of  iritis ; 
but  in  the  latter,  the  opacity  often  goes  on  increasing,  without  the 
owner  of  the  horse,  or  his  groom,  having  his  attention  drawn  to 
the  eyes,  until  he  finds  that  he  is  nearly  blind.  This  progress  is 
generally  marked  by  the  development  of  an  unusual  timidity ;  the 
previously-bold  animal  is  alarmed  at  objects  advancing  on  the  road, 
and  covered  carts  and  wagons,  of  which  he  formerly  took  no  notice, 
occasion  him  to  shy  in  the  most  timid  manner.  On  examining  his 
eyes  carefully,  instead  of  the  beautifully  clear  pupil,  with  the  re- 
flection of  tapetum  lucidum  shining  through  it,  there  is  seen  either 
a  mass  of  dull  white,  generally  more  opaque  in  the  centre,  or  an 
appearance  of  mottled,  semi-transparent  soap,  or,  lastly,  one  or  two 
distinct  white  spots,  not  quite  circular,  but  with  irregular  edges. 
In  confirmed  cataract,  the  white  pupil  can  been  seen  at  any  dis- 
tance ]  but  in  the  very  early  stage,  only  a  practised  eye  can  detect 
the  opacity,  which,  however,  is  so  manifest  to  him  that  he  wonders 
it  is  not  visible  to  every  one  else.  The  reason  of  this  difficulty  of 
detecting  the  alteration  of  structure  seems  to  be,  that  inexperienced 
examiners  look  at  the  eye  in  such  a  manner  that  they  are  confused 
by  the  reflection  on  it  of  their  own  faces,  hiding  all  beneath.  If, 
however,  they  will  turn  their  heads  a  little  more  on  one  side,  this 
will  disappear,  and  they  cannot  fail  to  perceive  the  disease.  When 
cataract  is  clearly  proved  to  exist,  all  idea  of  treatment  may  be 
abandoned,  as  nothing  but  an  operation  can  procure  a  removal  of 
the  opacity ;  and  that  would  leave  the  horse  in  a  more  useless  con- 
dition than  before,  since  he  could  see  nothing  clearly,  and  would 
only  be  subject  to  continual  alarms.  In  the  human  being,  the 
operation  is  performed  with  great  success,  because  the  lens  which 


AMAUROSIS— BUCK  "EYE.  387 

is  sacrificed  can  be  replaced  externally  by  means  of  convex  glasses ; 
but  in  the  horse,  nothing  of  the  kind  can  be  done.  Hence,  it  is 
useless  to  dream  of  effecting  any  improvement  in  this  disease;  and 
if  both  eyes  are  the  subject  of  cataract,  the  horse  is  incurably 
blind.  But  supposing  there  is  a  cataract  in  one  eye  only,  is  the 
other  sure  to  go  blind,  or  may  a  reasonable  hope  be  entertained  of 
its  remaining  sound  ?  Here  the  history  of  the  disease  must  be 
examined  before  any  opinion  can  be  formed.  If  the  opacity  fol- 
lowed an  accident,  there  is  no  reason  for  concluding  that  the  other 
eye  will  become  diseased ;  but  if  it  came  on  idiopathically,  either 
preceded  by  inflammation  or  otherwise,  there  is  great  risk  of  a 
repetition  in  the  sound  eye.  Nevertheless,  instances  are  common 
enough  of  one  eye  going  blind  from  cataract,  while  the  other  re- 
mains sound  to  the  end  of  life ;  and  those  are  still  more  frequent 
in  which  the  one  sound  eye  continues  so  for  six  or  seven  years. 

AMAUROSIS. 

THIS  IS  A  PALSY  of  the  nervous  expansion  called  the  retina, 
produced  by  some  disease,  either  functional  or  organic,  of  the  optic 
nerve,  which  is  generally  beyond  the  reach  of  our  senses,  in  ex- 
amining it  after  death.  The  symptoms  are  a  full  dilatation  of  the 
pupil,  so  that  the  iris  is  shrunk  to  a  thin  band  around  it,  and  is  so 
insensible  to  the  stimulus  of  light,  in  confirmed  cases,  that,  even 
when  the  eye  is  exposed  to  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun,  it  does  not 
contract.  In  the  early  stages,  this  insensibility  is  only  partial ;  and 
though  there  is  such  complete  blindness  that  the  horse  cannot  dis- 
tinguish the  nature  of  surrounding  objects,  yet  the  pupil  contracts 
slightly,  and  the  inexperienced  examiner  might  pass  the  eye  as  a 
sound  one.  The  unnaturally  large  pupil,  however,  should  always 
create  suspicion;  and  when,  on  closing  the  lids  and  re-opening 
them  in  a  strong  light,  there  is  little  or  no  variation  in  its  size,  the 
nature  of  the  disease  is  at  once  made  apparent.  The  treatment  of 
amaurosis  must  depend  upon  the  extent  to  which  it  has  gone,  and 
its  duration.  If  recent,  bleeding  and  a  seton  in  close  proximity 
to  the  diseased  organ  will  be  the  most  likely  to  restore  it.  Some- 
times the  disease  depends  upon  a  disordered  condition  of  the  sto- 
mach, and  then  a  run  at  grass  will  be  the  most  likely  means  to 
restore  both  the  affected  organs  to  a  sound  state.  Generally,  how- 
ever, an  amaurotic  eye  in  the  horse  may  be  considered  as  a  hope- 
less case. 

BUCK  EYE. 

A  BUCK  EYE  is,  strictly,  rather  a  congenital  malformation  than  a 
disease;  but  practically,  in  reference  to  the  utility  of  the  animal, 
it  matters  little.  It  depends  upon  an  excess  of  convexity  in  the 
cornea,  by  which  the  focus  of  the  eye  is  shortened  too  much,  the 
image  being  thus  rendered  indistinct  as  it  falls  on  the  retina.  No 
treatment  can  be  of  the  slightest  use. 


388  *  THE  HORSE. 


SURFEIT. 

AN  ERUPTION  of  the  skin,  which  shows  itself  in  the  form  of 
numerous  small  scabs,  matting  the  hair,  and  chiefly  met  with  on 
the  loins  and  quarters,  is  known  by  this  name.  Doubtless,  it  has 
been  supposed  to  arise  from  an  excess  of  food,  causing  indigestion ; 
but  it  often  comes  on  in  horses  which,  apparently,  are  quite  free 
from  that  disorder.  The  most  common  cause  appears  to  be,  sweat- 
ing the  horse  when  he  is  in  a  gross  or  plethoric  condition,  and  then 
exposing  him  to  a  chill.  Colts  are  very  subject  to  surfeit  while 
being  broken,  as  are  horses  fresh  from  grass  during  the  summer, 
when  they  are  usually  over-fat,  and  require  great  care  in  reducing 
this  plethoric  condition.  The  usual  course  of  the  eruption  is  for 
the  scabs  to  dry  and  gradually  loosen,  when  the  hair  of  the  part  is 
slightly  thinned  by  being  pulled  out  in  dressing,  a  fresh  crop  of 
pustules  forming,  and,  to  the  casual  observer,  keeping  up  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  permanent  state  of  the  original  scabs.  Surfeit  is 
not  confined  to  gross  horses,  as  it  sometimes  makes  its  appearance 
in  those  which  are  low  in  condition,  exhibiting  the  same  appear- 
ance to  the  eye;  but,  on  examination,  the  secretion  from  the  skin 
will  be  found  to  be  thinner,  and  of  a  more  purulent  nature.  The 
treatment  must  greatly  depend  upon  the  state  of  the  general  health. 
If  the  horse  is  very  gross,  it  may  be  desirable  to  take  a  little  blood 
away ;  but  this  will  seldom  be  necessary,  and  never  is  desirable. 
Physic  seems  to  do  little  immediate  good ;  and,  indeed,  it  is  very 
doubtful  whether  any  treatment  is  of  much  service,  excepting  such 
as  will  gradually  bring  the  horse  into  working  condition.  The 
disease,  in  most  cases,  has  its  origin  in  obstruction  of  the  seba- 
ceous and  perspiratory  pores;  and  until  these  are  restored  to  their 
proper  functions,  by  gradually  exercising  them,  little  good  can  be 
done.  Unfortunately,  the  very  means  which  will  accomplish  this 
object  are  apt  to  increase  the  disease  for  a  time ;  but  still  this 
must  be  put  up  with,  as  a  matter  in  which  no  choice  can  be  made. 
Regular  exercise  and  grooming  must  be  fully  attended  to,  using 
the  whisp  only  in  dressing  the  skin,  when  the  eruption  shows 
itself,  and  carefully  avoiding  the  brush  and  currycomb.  By  acting 
on  the  kidneys,  more  good  will  be  done  than  by  purging  physic, 
which  seems  to  be  of  little  or  no  service  in  any  case  but  when  the 
stomach  is  greatly  out  of  order.  An  ounce  of  nitre  may  be  given 
with  a  mash  twice  a  week,  or  the  following  balls  may  be  ad- 
ministered : — 

Take  of  Nitre, 

Sulphur,  of  each 3  drachms. 

Sulphuret  of  Antimony 2  drachms. 

Linseed  Meal  and  Water  enough  to  form  two  balls. 


HIDEBOUND— MAN(  E.  389 

HIDEBOUND. 

THIS  is  ESSENTIALLY  a  disorder  of  the  skin  produced  by  sym- 
pathy with  the  stomach.  It  rarely  occurs  in  any  horse  but  one 
sadly  out  of  health  from  a  deficiency  either  in  the  quantity  or 
quality  of  the  food.  Sometimes  it  comes  on  in  the  latter  stages  of 
consumption  or  dysentery,  without  any  previous  mismanagement  • 
but  in  the  vast  majority  of  cases  the  cause  may  be  laid  to  the 
food.  The  skin  of  a  horse  in  health  feels  supple,  and  on  his  sides 
it  may  readily  be  gathered  up  by  the  hand  into  a  large  fold,  but 
in  hidebound  it  is  as  if  it  were  glued  to  the  ribs,  and  were  also  too- 
tight  for  the  carcase  which  it  invests.  The  name,  indeed,  is 
expressive  of  this  state,  and  the  disease  can  scarcely  be  mistaken 
when  once  seen,  or  rather  felt.  Coincident  with  this  condition  of 
the  skin,  there  is  also,  generally,  either  a  distended  state  of  the 
abdomen  from  flatulence,  or  a  contracted  and  "  tucked  up"  appear- 
ance from  diarrhoea.  The  treatment  should  be  addressed  to  the 
digestive  organs,  the  state  of  which  must  be  carefully  examined, 
and  if  possible  rectified.  A  pint  of  linseed,  scalded,  and  mixed 
with  a  bran  mash  every  night,  or  scalded  malt  given  in  equal 
quantities  with  the  corn ;  or  in  the  spring  time,  vetches,  clover,  or 
lucerne,  will  do  more  than  any  medicine ;  but  when  there  is  a 
deficient  appetite,  or  the  bowels  or  stomach,  or  either  of  them, 
are  evidently  much  weakened  and  disordered,  a  stomachic  ball 
once  or  twice  a  week  will  do  good.  The  remedies  appropriate  to 
these  several  conditions  will  be  found  under  their  respective  heads 
at  pages  354,  and  363,  364. 

MANGE. 

MANGE  corresponds  with  the  itch  of  the  human  subject  in 
being  produced  by  a  parasitic  insect,  which  is  an  acarus,  but  of  a 
different  species  to  that  of  man,  and  of  a  much  larger  size,  so  as  to 
be  readily  visible  to  the  naked  eye.  It  is  generally  produced  by 
contact  with  horses  previously  affected  with  the  same  disease,  but 
it  appears  highly  probable  that  a  poor,  half-starved  animal,  allowed 
to  accumulate  all  kinds  of  dirt  on  his  skin,  will  develop  the  para- 
site, though  how  this  is  done  is  not  clearly  made  out.  The  whole 
subject  of  parasites  is  wrapped  in  mystery,  which  modern  researches 
appear  likely  to  fathom,  but  hitherto  little  progress  has  been  made 
except  in  the  history  of  the  metamorphoses  of  the  tape-worm, 
from  the  analogy  of  which  some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  prob- 
able modes  of  production  of  other  parasites.  When  caused  by 
contagion,  as  certainly  happens  in  the  vast  majority  of  cases,  the 
first  symptoms  noticed  will  be  an  excessive  itching  of  the  skin, 
which  is  soon  followed  by  a  bareness  of  the  hair  in  patches,  partly 
caused  by  constant  friction.  The  disease  usually  shows  itself  on 
33* 


390  THE  HORSE. 

the  sick  of  the  neck,  just  at  the  edges  of  the  mane,  and  on  the 
insides  cf  the  quarters  near  the  root  of  the  tail.  From  these 
parts  the  eruption  extends  along  the  back  and  down  the  sides, 
seldom  involving  the  extremities  excepting  in  very  confirmed 
cases.  After  a  time  the  hair  almost  entirely  falls  off,  leaving  the 
skin  at  first  bare  and  smooth,  with  a  few  small  red  pimples  scat- 
tered over  it,  each  of  which  contains  an  acarus,  and  these  are  con- 
nected by  furrows,  along  which  the  acari  have  worked  their  way 
to  their  present  habitation.  In  process  of  time  the  pimples 
increase  in  number  and  size,  and  from  them  a  matter  exudes 
which  hardens  into  a  scab,  beneath  which,  on  examination, 
several  acari  may  readily  be  seen,  moving  their  legs  like  mites  in 
a  cheese,  to  which  they  are  closely  allied.  At  first  the  mangy 
horse  may  keep  his  health,  but  after  a  time  the  constant  irritation 
makes  him  feverish  ;  he  loses  flesh,  and  becomes  a  most  miserable 
object;  but  such  cases  of  neglect  are  happily  rare  in  the  present 
day.  The  treatment  must  be  addressed  to  the  destruction  of  the 
life  of  the  acarus,  which,  as  in  the  human  subject,  is  rapidly 
destroyed  by  sulphur,  turpentine,  arsenic,  hellebore,  and  corrosive 
sublimate.  Some  of  these  drugs  are,  however,  objectionable, 
from  being  poisonous  to  the  horse,  as  well  as  to  the  parasite  which 
preys  upon  him,  and  they  are,  therefore,  not  to  be  employed 
without  great  and  urgent  necessity,  in  consequence  of  the  failure 
of  milder  remedies.*  The  following  recipes  may  be  relied  on  as 
perfectly  efficacious,  the  former  being  sufficient  in  mild  cases,  and 
the  latter  being  strong  enough  in  any. 

1.  Take  of  Common  Sulphur 6  oz. 

Sperm  or  Train  Oil        ....       1  pint. 
Spirit  of  Turpentine       ....       3  oz. 

Mix  and  rub  well  into  the  skin  with  a  flannel,  or  in  preference  with  a 
painter's  brush. 

2.  Take  of  Compound  Sulphur  Ointment      .     .     8  oz. 

Train  or  Sperm  Oil 1  pint. 

Spirit  of  Turpentine 3  oz: 

Mix  and  use  as  above. 

One  or  other  of  the  above  dressings  should  be  well  rubbed  in 
every  third  day  for  at  least  three  or  four  weeks  in  bad  cases,  and 
two  in  trifling  ones,  when  the  inflammation  resulting  from  the 

*  Take  a  floor  cloth,  clamp  the  face  of  it  with  soap  and  water,  dip  it  in 
fine  sea  sand  and  give  the  mangy  parts  a  good  scrubbing  to  expose  the 
acari,  wash  off  dry,  and  apply  hepar  sulph.  one  ounce,  cold  water  two  pints. 
Sulphurous  acid  gas  is  a  certain  remedy  for  this  and  other  skin  diseases, 
and  is  used  as  follows  : — Place  one  ounce  of  roll  sulphur  on  hot  coals  in  a 
chafer  and  place  it  where  the  horse  is.  Close  all  the  doors  and  windows  but 
the  one  the  animal  is  to  stand  opposite  to.  Continue  the  fumigation  for  an 
Aour  or  so. — EDI  -OR. 


MANGE— LICE— MALLENDERS,  ETC.  391 

acari  and  also  from  the  application  may  be  allowed  to  subside  in 
the  hope  that  all  the  parasites  are  killed,  in  which  case  the  erup- 
tion disappears,  but  the  hair  does  not  always  come  on  again  as 
thickly  as  ever.  All  the  stable  fittings  around  the  stall  or  box  in 
which  the  horse  has  been  standing  should  be  thoroughly  washed 
over  with  a  solution  of  corrosive  sublimate,  made  as  follows  : — 

Take  of  Corrosive  Sublimate 1  oz. 

Methylated  Spirit  of  Wine      .     .     .     6  oz. 

Water 1  gallon. 

Dissolve  the  sublimate  in  the  spirit  by  rubbing  in  a  mortar,  then  mix  with 
the  water,  and  use  with  a  brush,  stirring  it  up  continually  to  prevent  its 
settling. 

The  clothing  should  be  destroyed,  as  it  is  scarcely  possible  to 
cleanse  it  completely  from  the  parasites ;  but  if  it  is  determined  to 
risk  a  return  of  the  disease,  it  should  be  thoroughly  washed,  and 
when  dry,  saturated  with  spirit  of  turpentine. 

When  the  health  has  suffered  from  the  irritation  of  mange,  a 
few  tonic  balls  may  be  required,  but  generally  the  removal  of  the 
cause  will  be  sufficient. 

LICE. 

IN  FORMER  DAYS  LICE  were  not  uncommon  in  the  horse,  but 
they  are  now  comparatively  rare.  Still  they  are  occasionally  met 
with,  and  their  presence  is  readily  ascertained,  being  of  a  consi- 
derable size,  and  easily  seen  with  the  naked  eye.  They  may  be 
destroyed  by  rubbing  into  the  roots  of  the  hair  white  precipitate, 
in  powder,  taking  care  to  avoid  sweating  the  horse  or  wetting  his 
skin  for  some  days  afterwards. 

MALLENDERS  AND  SALLENDERS. 

THESE  ERUPTIONS  are  both  of  the  same  nature,  differing  only 
in  the  locality  where  they  are  displayed.  The  former  shows  itself 
in  the  flexure  at  the  back  of  the  knee,  and  the  latter  at  the  bend 
of  the  hock.  The  symptoms  are  shown  in  the  appearance  of  a  foul 
scurf  mixed  with  a  few  thin  scabs,  the  skin  underneath  being  stiff 
and  unyielding.  They  are  generally  brought  on  by  washing  the 
legs  and  leaving  them  undried.  The  treatment  required  is  merely 
the  application  of  the  following  ointment,  which  should  be  well 
rubbed  in  every  night : — 

Take  of  Cerate  of  Superacetate  of  Lead     .       2  oz. 

Creosote 10  drops.     Mix. 

If  the  skin  continues  to  be  very  hard  and  stiff,  a  little  glycerine 
should  be  brushed  on  two  or  three  times  a  week. 

WARBLES,  SITFASTS,  AND  HARNESS  GALLS. 
WHEN  THE  SAI  DLE  HAS  GALLED  the  skin  beneath  it,  the  in- 


392  THE  HORSE. 

flammation  resulting  is  called  a  "warble,"  and  if  this  is  neglected, 
so  as  to  cause  a  troublesome  sore,  the  term,  "  sitfast"  is  applied. 
The  effect  produced  is  similar  to  a  harness  gall,  and  there  is  not 
the  slightest  necessity  for  inventing  names  to  distinguish  each  stage 
of  cruelty  in  the  rider,  for  if  attention  is  paid  to  the  warble  no  sit- 
fast  will  ever  make  its  appearance.  Prevention  is  better  than  cure, 
and  it  may  almost  always  be  effected  by  the  adoption  of  the  plan 
of  always  keeping  the  saddle  on  (after  loosing  the  girths)  for  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  or  twenty  minutes.  Sometimes,  however,  in 
spite  of  this  precaution,  the  skin  of  the  back  swells,  and  when  a 
heavy  man  has  been  riding  for  six  or  eight  hours  on  a  horse  unac- 
customed to  his  weight,  the  cuticle  will  perhaps  peel  off,  bringing 
the  hair  with  it.  When  the  swelling  is  considerable  it  should  be 
well  fomented  for  an  hour,  and  then  bathed  with  a  lotion  composed 
of  one  drachm  of  tincture  of  arnica  in  half  a  pint  of  water.  The 
saddle  should  never  be  re-applied  until  the  skin  is  quite  cool  and 
free  from  all  inflammation,  even  if  considerable  inconvenience  is 
thereby  suffered.  The  same  treatment  will  also  apply  to  harness 
galls.  Oiling  the  inside  of  the  collar  will  often  prevent  the  shoulder 
from  suffering  excoriation. 

GRUBS. 

THE  LARVA  OF  SOME  BEETLE,  but  of  what  species  I  do  not 
know,  is  occasionally  met  with  in  the  horse,  causing  a  small  lump, 
about  the  size  of  a  raisin,  and  usually  on  the  back.  This  obsti- 
nately continues  for  months^  if  its  nature  is  not  understood,  in 
spite  of  all  ordinary  applications.  At  last  a  white  larva  or  grub, 
with  a  black  head,  and  very  similar  in  everything  but  size  to  the 
maggot  found  in  the  nut,  makes  its  appearance,  and  either  escapes 
to  fall  on  the  ground  and  become  a  chrysalis,  or  else  it  is  squeezed 
out  by  the  groom,  which  is  easily  done  as  soon  as  the  head  is  visi- 
ble. When  discovered  previously,  an  opening  may  be  made  with 
the  point  of  a  penknife,  and  then  the  larva  may  be  gradually 
squeezed  out,  avoiding  too  much  haste  in  the  operation,  which  will 
only  retard  the  process. 

BITES  AND  STINGS  OF  INSECTS. 

HORSES  ARE  LIABLE  TO  BE  STUNG  by  hornets,  wasps,  and  bees. 
If  there  are  only  one  or  two  stings  made,  no  interference  is  neces- 
sary ;  but  sometimes  a  larger  number  of  poisonous  punctures  have 
been  effected,  and  then  the  best  treatment  is  the  application  of 
spirit  of  turpentine  and  laudanum  in  equal  proportions. 

THE  BITES  or  THE  GADFLY  are  so  troublesome  in  their  effects 
that  it  is  sometimes  desirable  to  prevent  them  if  possible.  This  is 
effected  by  making  a  strong  infusion  of  the  green  bark  of  the  elder 
and  washing  the  flanks,  &c.?  with  it  before  going  out. 


SWELLED  LEGS.  393 

SWELLED  LEGS. 

THE  SKIN  OF  THE  LEGS  AND  THE  CELLULAR  MEMBRANE  be- 
neath it  are  liable  to  two  kinds  of  swelling,  one  of  which  is  of  an 
inflammatory  character,  while  the  other  is  solely  due  to  a  deposit  of 
serum  (oedema),  owing  to  the  non-performance  of  their  office  by 
the  kidneys.  Both  kinds  are  much  more  frequent  in  the  hind  legs 
than  the  fore,  but  especially  the  former. 

INFLAMMATORY  SWELLED  LEG,  sometimes  called  weed,  is  gene- 
rally accompanied  by  a  certain  amount  of  feverishness,  and  comes 
on  suddenly,  almost  always  showing  itself  on  the  inside  of  the  hind 
leg,  which  is  hot  and  extremely  tender.  It  is  not  a  very  common 
disease,  and  merely  requires  the  ordinary  low  treatment,  by  purging 
physic,  and,  if  necessary,  bleeding.  Should  it  continue  for  more 
than  two  or  three  days  after  these  are  tried,  an  ounce  of  nitre  may 
be  given  every  night  in  a  bran  mash. 

ORDINARY  SWELLING  OF  THE  LEGS,  OR  CEDEMA,  occurs  in  every 
degree,  from  a  slight  "filling,"  to  which  many  horses  are  always 
subject,  whether  they  work  or  stand  in  the  stable,  to  an  enlarge- 
ment extending  up  to  the  stifles  and  elbows,  sometimes  rendering 
the  legs  almost  as  round  and  as  hard  as  mill-posts.  When  horses 
are  first  brought  in  from  grass  their  legs  almost  always  fill  more  or 
less,  and  until  they  are  regularly  seasoned  to  their  work  there  is 
seldom  that  clean  condition  of  the  suspensory  ligaments  and  back 
sinews  which  one  likes  to  see  even  before  the  daily  exercise  is  given. 
The  oedema  appears  to  depend  partly  upon  a  deficient  action  of  the 
kidneys,  but  chiefly  on  the  vessels  of  the  legs  not  acting  sufficiently 
without  constant  walking  exercise,  such  as  is  natural  to  the  horse 
when  at  liberty,  and  which  he  takes  at  grass.  Half  an  hour's  walk- 
ing will  generally  produce  absorption  completely,  so  that  a  daily 
remedy  is  forthcoming ;  but  as  a  rule,  whenever  there  is  this  ten- 
dency to  "  filling"  of  the  legs,  the  cellular  membrane  is  not  the 
only  tissue  in  fault,  but  the  tendons  and  joints  are  also  liable  to 
inflammation.  The  treatment  will  greatly  depend  on  the  exact 
cause.  If  the  swelling  is  only  due  to  the  change  from  grass  to 
the  confinement  of  a  warm  stable,  time  alone  is  wanted,  taking  care 
not  to  overwork  the  horse  in  the  mean  time.  Bandages  will  always 
assist  in  keeping  down  the  swelling ;  but  they  should  not  be  used 
without  necessity,  as  when  once  the  horse  becomes  accustomed  to 
them  his  legs  can  hardly  be  kept  fine  without  their  aid.  If  weak- 
ness is  the  cause,  a  drachm  of  sulphate  of  iron  given  in  the  corn 
twice  a  day  will  often  strengthen  the  system,  and  with  it  the  legs. 
Diuretics  may  be  adopted  as  an  occasional  aid  to  the  kidneys,  but 
they  should  be  of  the  mildest  kind,  such  as  nitre,  or  they  will  do 
more  harm,  by  weakening  the  body  generally,  than  good  by  their 
stimulus  to  the  kidneys.  Indeed,  they  are  often  the  sole  cause  of 


394  THE  HORSE. 

the  legs  filling,  for  some  grooms  use  them  so  continually,  whethei 
they  are  wanted  or  not,  that  the  kidneys  become  diseased  and  refuse 
to  act,  which  is  a  sure  forerunner  of  oedema.  Where  swelling  of 
the  legs  is  confirmed,  bandages  must  be  regularly  applied  as  recom- 
mended at  page  196. 

CHAPPED   HEELS. 

WHEN  A  HORSE  SUFFERS  FROM  (EDEMA  of  the  legs,  he  is  par- 
ticularly prone  to  an  eruption  of  a  watery  nature  in  the  cleft 
between  the  heels  and  behind  the  lesser  pastern.  Those  also 
whose  legs  are  washed  and  not  dried  are  still  more  prone  to  it, 
especially  if  the  hair  is  white.  The  skin  cracks,  and,  in  bad  cases, 
is  so  inflamed  and  swollen  that  the  leg  cannot  be  bent  without  great 
pain,  and  often  there  is  a  bleeding  from  the  cracks,  caused  by  the 
action  of  the  limb,  but  only  to  a  sufficient  extent  to  show  that  blood 
has  escaped.  The  treatment  must  be  local  as  well  as  general  if  the 
eruption  is  not  entirely  due  to  mismanagement.  In  any  case,  the 
part  should  be  dressed  with  cerate  of  acetate  of  lead,  a  little  of 
which  should  be  rubbed  in  every  night.  Next  morning  some  gly- 
cerine should  be  brushed  on  an  hour  at  least  before  the  exercise, 
and  renewed  before  the  daily  work  is  commenced.  This  will  pre- 
vent all  risk  of  the  skin  cracking,  while  the  ointment  will  act  bene- 
ficially on  the  vessels  of  the  part.  In  addition  to  these  applica- 
tions, the  general  health  should  be  attended  to  if  in  fault,  and 
tonics  or  diuretics  should  be  given,  as  the  case  may  require. 

GKEASE. 

[Commonly  called  "Scratches"  in  the  United  States."] 

THE  ERUPTION  KNOWN  AS  GREASE  is  sometimes  only  an  aggra- 
vated form  of  chapped  heels,  and  is  often  preceded  by  them.  At 
others  the  appearance  of  the  disease  is  ushered  in  by  constitutional 
symptoms,  such  as  feverishness,  oedema  of  the  limbs  and  hide- 
bound. The  first  local  symptom,  is  a  slight  swelling  of  the  skin 
of  the  heels  and  adjacent  parts,  which  soon  cracks,  and  from  the 
fissures  there  exudes  an  offensive  discharge  which  looks  greasy,  but 
is  really  watery,  being  of  a  serous  nature.  It  inflames  every  part 
that  it  touches,  and  has  a  tendency  to  cause  a  spread  of  the  eruption 
in  all  directions,  but  chiefly  downwards.  The  legs  go  on  swelling  to 
a  frightful  extent,  and  are  thereby  rendered  so  stiff  and  sore  that 
great  lameness  is  produced.  If  this  stage  is  neglected  the  whole 
surface  ulcerates,  and  a  fungous  growth  makes  its  appearance, 
chiefly  from  the  original  cracks.  The  discharge  becomes  purulent 
and  has  a  most  foul  smell,  and  the  leg  can  with  difficulty  be  bent 
at  all.  Finally,  the  fungous  excrescences  cover  the  whole  of  the 
diseased  skin,  being  of  a  bright  red  color,  and  slightly  resembling 
grapes  in  form,  from  which  circumstances  this  stage  has  been 


GREASE,  OR  SCRATCHES.  395 

called  "  the  grapes."  It  is  now  very  rare  to  meet  with  grease  in 
any  of  its  forms  except  in  the  cart-stable,  where  the  hairy  legs  of 
its.  inmates  render  them  peculiarly  prone  to  its  attacks,  from  the 
time  required  to  dry  them  when  wet.  They  are  so  difficult  to  clean 
without  water  that  the  carters  may  well  be  excused  for  using  it, 
but  if  they  do  they  ought  carefully  to  dry  the  legs  afterwards. 
The  treatment  when  grease  is  established  must  be  founded  upon 
the  same  principle  as  in  chapped  heels.  The  skin  must  be  kept 
supple,  and  at  the  same  time  stimulated  to  a  healthy  action.  For 
the  former  purpose  glycerine  is  most  valuable,  being  far  more  effi- 
cacious than  any  greasy  dressing,  such  as  we  were  obliged  to  employ 
before  the  discovery  of  this  substance.  In  all  the  stages  of  grease, 
this  latter  agent  may  be  employed,  and  as  it  is  readily  soluble  in 
water  it  can  be  washed  off  and  renewed  as  often  as  it  may  be  desired. 
The  discharge  is  so  foul  and  irritating  that  it  ought  to  be  thoroughly 
removed  at  least  once  in  twenty-four  hours,  and  one  of  the  chief 
advantages  of  the  use  of  glycerine  is  that  it  so  greatly  assists  this 
cleansing  process  from  its  solubility  in  water.  In  addition  to  this 
emollient  plan,  some  stimulus  must  be  selected,  and  none  answers 
so  well  (in  all  stages  but  the  very  earliest)  as  chloride  of  zinc. 
When,  therefore,  the  heels  are  in  that  state  that  it  is  almost  doubt- 
ful whether  the  disease  is  the  mere  chap  or  absolute  grease,  the 
treatment  recommended  for  the  former  may  be  tried,  but  should 
this  fail,  the  groom  should  at  once  proceed  to  cut  the  hair  of  the 
skin  which  is  diseased  as  short  as  possible.  Then  let  him  take 
some  soap  and  warm  water  and  gently  wash  the  parts  with  a  sponge 
till  the  skin  is  perfectly  clean  and  free  from  scab  or  scurf,  taking 
care  to  remove  every  particle  of  soap  by  well  rinsing  it.  Next  dry 
the  leg,  and  then  with  a  small  paint-brush  rub  gently  into  the  in- 
flamed parts  enough  of  the  following  lotion  to  damp  them,  but  not 
to  wet  them  thoroughly  : — 

Take  of  Chloride  of  Zinc 30  grs. 

Water 1  pint.     Mix. 

A  quarter  of  an  hour  afterwards  apply  a  little  glycerine  over  the 
whole,  and  keep  the  parts  sufficiently  supple  with  it.  If  there  is 
much  discharge  the  cleansing  may  be  repeated  night  and  morning, 
followed  by  the  chloride  of  zinc,  but  in  most  cases  once  a  day  will 
be  sufficiently  often.  If  the  ulcerated  or  inflamed  skin  does  not 
put  on  a  healthy  appearance  in  a  few  days,  the  lotion  may  be  in- 
creased in  strength,  using  forty,  fifty,  or  sixty  grains  to  the  pint, 
as  required;  but  the  remedy  will  be  found  to  be  almost  a  specific,  ex- 
cept for  the  grapy  form,  if  properly  proportioned  in  strength.  When 
the  fungoid  growths  are  very  extensive,  nothing  but  their  removal, 
eithep  by  the  knife  or  by  the  actual  or  potential  cautery,  will  suffice. 
The  least  painful  plan  is  to  slice  them  off  to  a  level  with  the  skin 


396  THE  HORSE. 

and  then  just  touch,  the  bleeding  surface  with  a  hot  iron,  which 
will  have  the  double  good  effect  of  stopping  the  bleeding  and  in- 
ducing a  healthy  action.  The  glycerine  may  then  be  applied,  and 
next  day  the  leg  may  be  treated  in  the  same  way  as  for  ordinary 
grease  described  above.  When  the  disease  is  of  long  standing, 
local  applications  may  cure  it  for  a  time,  but  either  it  will  return, 
or  there  will  be  some  other  organ  attacked,  unless  the  unhealthy 
state  of  the  blood  is  attended  to.  It  must  be  remembered  that 
during  the  existence  of  grease  this  vital  fluid  is  called  upon  to 
supply  the  materials  for  the  secretion  which  is  constantly  going  on. 
Now  if  on  the  cessation  of  the  demand  for  them  the  blood  still 
goes  on  obtaining  its  supplies  from  the  digestive  organs,  it  becomes 
overloaded,  a  state  of  plethora  is  established,  which  Nature  attempts 
to  relieve  in  some  one  or  other  of  her  established  modes  by  setting 
up  disease.  To  avoid  such  a  result  arsenic  may  be  given  internally, 
for  this  medicine  has  a  special  power  in  counteracting  this  ten- 
dency. How  it  acts  has  never  yet  been  made  out,  but  that  it  does 
exert  such  a  power  is  thoroughly  ascertained,  and  if  the  doses  are 
not  too  large  it  is  unattended  by  any  injurious  effect.  Indeed  for  a 
time  it  seems  to  act  as  as  a  tonic.  The  arsenic  should  be  given  in 
solution  and  with  the  food,  so  as  to  procure  its  absorption  into  the 
blood  without  weakening  the  stomach.  A  wine-glassful  of  liquor 
arsenicalis  (1£  oz.)  should  be  poured  over  the  corn  twice  a  day, 
and  continued  for  a  couple  of  months,  when  it  may  be  discontinued 
with  a  fair  hope  of  its  having  had  the  desired  effect.  Should  the 
skin,  however,  look  inflamed,  a  second  course  of  it  may  be  given, 
and  it  will  be  found  that  if  it  is  given  with  the  corn  it  will  not  be 
followed  by  any  injurious  consequences.* 

WAKTS. 

WARTS  are,  generally,  only  to  be  considered  as  eyesores;  for, 
unless  they  appear  on  the  penis,  they  are  not  injurious  to  health ; 
nor  do  they  interfere  with  work  unless  they  happen  to  appear  on 
the  shoulders  beneath  the  collar  in  a  harness  horse,  which  is  very 
rare  indeed.  They  are,  doubtless,  very  unsightly,  and,  for  this 
reason,  it  is  often  desired  to  remove  them,  which  may  be  done  by 
first  picking  off  the  rough  outer  surface,  so  as  to  make  them  bleed, 
and  then  rubbing  in,  with  a  stiff  brush,  some  yellow  orpiment, 
wetted  with  a  little  water.  This  will  cause  considerable  inflam- 
mation, and  in  a  few  days  the  wart  will  drop  off,  leaving  a  healthy 
sore,  which  soon  heals.  Sometimes  the  whole  wart  does  not  come 
away  on  the  first  application,  in  which  case  a  second  must  be 
made.  When  the  glans  penis  is  completely  covered  with  warts, 

*  The  best  treatment  for  scratches  will  be  found  to  be  carbolic  acid  onfc  part, 
cold  water  forty  parts,  applied  from  one  to  three  times  daily.— EDITOR. 


WARTS  AND  CORNS.  397 

the  best  plan  is  to  amputate  it,  as  it  requires  the  greatest  caution 
and  tact  to  remove  them  by  arsenic  or  any  other  caustic  without 
destroying,  also,  as  much  of  the  penis  as  is  taken  away  by  the 
knife. 

COKNS. 

THESE  TROUBLESOME  results  of  bad  shoeing,  or  subsequent 
neglect  of  the  feet,  make  their  appearance  in  the  sole  of  the  foot, 
in  the  angle  formed  between  the  crust  and  the  bar  (see  fig.  20  (K), 
Chap.  XXVI.).  Where  the  foot  is  properly  prepared  for  the  shoe, 
and  the  smith  seats  the  heel  of  the  crust  and  the  bar  on  a 
level  surface,  no  corn  will  make  its  appearance  in  a  healthy  foot ; 
but  if  a  corn  has  previously  existed,  or  if  the  shoe  is  allowed  to 
press  upon  the  sole  at  E  (see  fig.  20,  Chap.  XXVI.),  the  delicate 
blood-vessels  of  the  sensible  sole  are  ruptured,  and,  instead  of  se- 
creting a  sound  horn,  capable  of  bearing  the  slight  strain  upon  it 
which  is  required,  a  fungoid  growth  is  formed,  presenting  a  reddish 
appearance,  and  exquisitely  sensitive.  This  morbid  substance 
does  not  at  all  resemble  the  hard  corn  of  the  human  subject,  which 
is  a  thickened  secretion  of  cuticle,  but  it  bears  some  comparison 
with  the  soft  corns  that  form  so  often  between  the  toes,  and  give 
so  much  trouble  in  their  removal.  It  is,  in  fact,  a  new  growth  of 
a  semi-fungoid  character,  partly  made  up  of  granulations  and 
partly  of  horny  matter,  the  two  being  closely  united.  The  corn 
may  arise  from  improper  pressure  made  on  this  part  of  the  sensible 
sole,  either  directly  from  the  shoe,  or  indirectly  by  pressing  a  thin 
brittle  crust  inwards  upon  it.  Generally,  however,  it  is  met  with 
at  the  inner  heel,  from  the  shoe  being  overgrown  by  that  part  of 
the  foot  when  kept  on  too  long.  The  outer  nails  do  not  allow  it 
to  work  in  the  contrary  direction,  and  if  there  is  a  clip  on  the 
outer  quarter  this  is  rendered  still  more  improbable.  If,  there- 
fore, shoeing  is  properly  managed,  corns  may  always  be  prevented, 
and  we  shall  see  in  the  directions  for  shoeing,  at  Chap.  XXVI., 
how  this  is  to  be  managed.  At  present  I  have  to  consider  how 
they  are  to  be  relieved  or  cured  when  they  are  already  established. 

THE    ORDINARY    MODE     OF    TREATING    CORNS    is    simply    to    Cut 

them  out,  leaving  the  bar  and  heel  of  the  crust  full,  and  thus 
taking  all  pressure  off  them.  This  enables  the  horse  to  do  his  work 
for  about  ten  days,  but  then  the  shoe  must  be  removed,  and  the 
paring-out  repeated,  a  process  which  weakens  the  already  weak 
crust  by  making  additional  nail-holes  in  it.  The  shoe  at  the  same 
time  is  generally  "  sprung,"  that  is,  it  is  so  bent  or  filed  that  the 
heel  does  not  fully  bear  upon  it ;  but  this  does  not  last  many 
hours,  and  is  of  little  real  utility.  The  plan  answers  well  enough 
for  the  purposes  of  fraudulent  sellers,  as  the  horse  runs  sound  for 
about  ten  days ;  and  when  he  fails,  and  on  taking  off  his  shoe  he 
34 


398  THE  HORSE. 

is  discovered  to  have  a  corn,  it  is  impossible  to  prove  that  it  ex- 
isted at  the  time  of  sale  by  any  evidence  but  that  of  the  smith 
who  shod  him  previously  to  it.  Excepting,  therefore,  in  very 
slight  and  recent  cases,  in  which  it  will  sometimes  be  followed  by 
success,  this  plan  of  treatment  is  only  palliative,  and  what  is  worse, 
it  tends  to  increase  the  weakness  of  the  foot  and  consequent  ten- 
dency to  the  disease. 

FOR  THE  CURATIVE  PLAN  we  must  do  something  more  than 
merely  take  the  pressure  on7  the  sole ;  the  bar  and  heel  of  the 
crust  must  also  be  relieved,  and  the  sensible  sole  must  be  stimu- 
lated, by  a  proper  application,  to  secrete  healthy  horn,  as  well  as 
by  pressure  on  the  frog.  If  the  horse  is  to  be  rested,  this  can  be 
done  easily  enough  by  taking  off  his  shoes,  but  he  may  be  kept  at 
work  by  putting  on  a  bar-shoe,  and  cutting  down  the  bar  and  crust, 
so  as  to  throw  all  the  pressure  off  them  upon  the  frog.  A  double 
purpose  is  effected  in  this  way.  First,  the  sensible  sole  is  relieved 
of  the  constant  pressure  which  the  crust  bears  upon  it  laterally  ; 
and,  secondly,  the  jar  on  the  frog,  communicated  through  the  shoe, 
from  the  ground,  induces  a  healthy  action  in  the  foot,  and  the  sole 
has  a  greater  tendency  to  secrete  healthy  horn.  There  is  no  doubt 
in  my  mind  that  all  horses  would  work  much  better,  and  keep  their 
feet  in  much  sounder  condition,  if  their  frogs  could  be  brought  into 
use,  without  being  guarded  as  they  are  by  the  ordinary  shoe.  This 
part  is  intended  by  nature  to  take  upon  itself  great  pressure ;  and 
if  it  has  not  its  natural  stimulus  it  becomes  weak  itself,  and,  more- 
over, it  does  not  stimulate  the  surrounding  parts  to  a  healthy  action, 
as  it  ought  to  do.  The  bar-shoe  is  inconvenient  for  many  purposes, 
and,  therefore,  it  is  not  generally  applied ;  but  as  a  curative  agent 
these  objections  are  to  be  dispensed  with,  and  then  it  will  be  found 
to  be  extremely  valuable,  not  only  in  relieving  the  diseased  part  (the 
corn)  but  in  giving  a  healthy  action  to  its  seat,  the  sole.  The  smith 
should,  therefore,  pare  down  the  crust  at  the  heel,  so  that  when  the 
bar-shoe  is  applied  it  will  allow  a  penny-piece  to  be  insinuated  be- 
tween the  two  surfaces.  With  this  the  horse  does  his  work  com- 
fortably on  the  road ;  and  in  process  of  time,  that  is,  in  two  or  three 
months,  the  heel  grows  up,  and  takes  its  own  share  of  pressure,  or 
a  part  of  it,  becoming  gradually  accustomed  to  the  amount  which  it 
will  have  to  bear  when  the  bar-shoe  is  discontinued.  In  the  mean 
time  a  little  of  the  following  lotion  may  be  applied  daily  to  the 
situation  of  the  corn  by  means  of  a  feather. 

Take  of  Chloride  of  Zinc 1  drachm. 

Water      ......     •    V    •     •     •     6  oz- 

Glycerine 2  oz.      Mix. 

In  every  case,  the  bar-shoe  must  be  continued  until  the  heel  of  the 
crust  and  the  bar  grow  down  strongly ;  and  then  a  common  shoe 
may  be  applied. 


SANDCRACK— FALSE  QUARTER.  399 

SANDCRACK. 
IN  THE  ANATOMICAL  DESCRIPTION  OF    THE    FOOT,  at  page  291, 

it  will  be  seen  that  the  crust  is  composed  of  fibres,  running  paral- 
lel to  each  other  in  a  direction  from  the  coronet  to  the  ground  sur- 
face. These  fibres  are  glued  together  firmly  in  a  sound  and  strong 
hoof;  but,  in  a  weak  one,  it  sometimes  happens  that  the  gelatinous 
matter  is  not  in  sufficient  quantity,  and  then  the  fibres  separate, 
and  leave  a  crack  of  greater  or  less  extent,  according  to  circum- 
stances. This,  called  a  sandcrack,  happens  at  the  thinnest  part, 
which  is  the  inner  quarter  in  the  fore  foot,  and  the  toe  in  the  hind. 
To  cure  it,  the  foot  must  be  rested,  or  at  least  that  part  of  it  where 
the  crack  occurs,  which  in  the  fore  foot  may  be  effected  by  the  use 
of  a  bar-shoe,  throwing  the  pressure  entirely  on  the  frog,  as  recom- 
mended in  the  last  section  on  corns,  and  taking  care  that  the  crust 
behind  the  crack  is  not  in  contact  with  the  shoe.  By  adopting 
this  plan,  I  have  succeeded  in  curing  sand-cracks  during  moderate 
work  j  but  if  it  happens  in  the  hind  foot,  complete  rest  must  be 
given,  as  the  toe  cannot  be  relieved  by  any  possible  contrivance. 
The  next  thing  to  be  done  is  to  open  the  crack  slightly,  so  that 
any  grit  getting  into  it  shall  not  cause  its  further  expansion ;  and 
in  doing  this,  if  there  is  any  little  cellular  cavity,  it  should  be  ex- 
posed. If  the  crack  extends  to  the  coronet,  which  it  rarely  does, 
nothing  can  be  done  until  it  has  grown  out  for  at  least  half  an 
inch  from  that  part,  when  the  point  of  a  hot  iron  may  be  applied 
to  the  angle  of  the  crack  for  a  second,  so  as  to  keep  out  water, 
which  has  the  effect  of  causing  the  fibres  to  split  by  the  capillary 
attraction  which  is  exercised.  The  burn  should  be  very  slight, 
and  should  not  be  carried  deeply  into  the  substance  of  the  horn. 
A  fine  nail  should  then  be  driven  from  below  through  the  crust, 
the  shoe  being  removed  ;  a-nd  when  brought  out  at  the  usual  place, 
should  be  left  projecting.  The  shoe  should  be  put  on,  and  the 
innermost  nail  also  left  projecting.  These  two  should  then  be 
firmly  bound  together  by  fine  wire,  so  as  to  bring  the  edges  of  the 
crack  together ;  and  the  foot  should  be  left  in  this  state  for  at  least 
a  month  or  five  weeks,  when  the  shoe  may  be  taken  off,  and  the 
operation  repeated.  This  is  far  better  than  binding  wire  or  twine 
round  the  whole  foot,  as  it  acts  more  completely  on  the  crack, 
without  confining  the  growth  of  the  remainder  of  the  foot.  Of 
course,  after  the  wire  is  twisted  on,  the  nails  must  be  clenched,  and 
there  will  be  a  greater  projection  than  usual ;  but  this  is  of  no  im- 
portance whatever.  In  cracks  of  the  hind  foot  the  nails  in  each 
quarter  will  keep  the  two  sides  from  separating,  but  the  horse  can. 
not  be  worked. 

FALSE  QUARTER. 

WHEN,  FROM  AN  ACCIDENT,  the  coronary  substance  is  perma- 
nently injured,  it  ceases  to  secrete  sound  horn,  and  a  stripe  of  the 


400  THE  HORSE. 

crust,  defective  in  strength,  runs  all  the  way  down  from  the  coro- 
net to  the  plantar  edge.  This  generally  happens  at  the  inner 
quarter,  and  is  owing  to  the  horse  treading  on  his  coronet;  but  it 
may  also  occur  on  the  outside,  either  from  the  tread  of  another 
horse,  or  from  some  kind  of  external  violence.  The  result  is  simi- 
lar to  that  of  a  sandcrack  ;  there  is  no  strength  in  the  affected  heel, 
and  lameness  is  produced.  The  treatment  is  very  much  the  same 
as  for  sandcrack.  In  the  first  place,  the  pressure  must  be  taken 
off  the  quarter,  and  a  bar-shoe  applied,  so  as  to  convey  the  weight 
on  the  frog,  as  described  under  the  head  of  Sandcrack.  The  heel 
of  the  affected  quarter  should  be  lowered,  and  thus  further  injury 
will  be  prevented.  The  next  thing  to  be  done  is  to  stimulate  the 
coronet  to  a  healthy  action  by  blistering  it,  which  must  be  done 
two  or  three  times,  taking  care  that  the  blister  is  not  of  too  violent 
a  nature,  and  that  the  skin  heals  before  a  second  is  applied.  By 
these  means,  a  cure  may  sometimes  be  effected ;  but  it  takes  a  con- 
siderable time,  and  until  the  quarter  is  reproduced  in  full  strength, 
or  nearly  so,  the  bar-shoe  should  be  continued.  By  its  use,  any 
horse  with  a  sound  frog  can  travel  very  well  on  the  road,  even  if 
the  quarter  is  entirely  and  permanently  separated  from  the  toe  by 
inefficient  horn ;  and  without  it,  the  chance  of  a  cure  is  not  to  be 
reckoned  on. 

QUITTOK. 

BY  THIS  TERM  is  UNDERSTOOD  a  chronic  abscess  of  the  foot, 
the  matter  always  forming  sinuses,  from  the  difficulty  which  nature 
has  to  overcome  in  finding  a  way  for  it  to  reach  the  surface. 
Generally,  the  mischief  is  occasioned  by  an  overreach,  or  a  bruise 
of  the  sole,  or  by  the  inflammation  resulting  from  a  neglected 
thrush,  or,  lastly,  from  a  nail-prick.  From  any  of  these  causes, 
inflammation  of  the  delicate  investment  of  the  coffin-bone  is  set  up, 
pus  is  secreted,  and,  in  working  its  way  to  the  surface,  it  burrows 
between  the  horn  and  the  bone,  and  forms  one  or  more  sinuses,  or 
pipes,  as  these  fistulous  tubes  are  called  by  the  farrier.  A  quittor 
is  recognised  by  the  eye  and  nose  detecting  an  opening  in  the 
horn,  from  which  a  foul  discharge  proceeds;  and  on  introducing  a 
probe,  it  will  generally  pass  freely  in  two  or  three  directions,  some- 
times giving  a  grating  sensation  to  the  finger,  showing  that  the 
bone  is  denuded,  and  most  probably  carious.  There  is  generally 
a  considerable  increase  of  temperature  in  the  foot,  and  always 
more  or  less  lameness,  with,  in  most  cases,  swelling  of  the  bulbous 
heels  and  coronet.  On  examining  the  sole  carefully,  some  part 
will  either  show  a  difference  of  color  from  the  adjacent  horn,  or 
there  will  be  a  yielding  on  pressure,  owing  to  its  being  undermined. 
The  treatment  must  be  conducted  on  the  same  principle  as  for 
fistulous  sores.  In  the  first  place,  a  dependent  opening  must  be 


QUITTOR— THRUSH.  401 

formed,  so  that  no  matter  shall  be  confined,  but  it  shall  be  allowed 
to  come  away  as  fast  as  it  forms.  This  can  only  be  done  by  prob- 
ing ;  and  if  the  original  opening  is  in  the  coronet,  the  probe  must 
be  passed  down  as  low  as  possible,  and  then  the  sole  should  be 
pared  away  till  the  end  can  be  reached.  In  tolerably  recent  quit- 
tors,  this  plan  alone  will  allow  the  sinus  to  heal ;  but  in  old  ones, 
the  internal  surface  has  become  callous,  and  no  granulations  are 
thrown  out.  Here  an  injection  should  be  thrown  in  every  day 
with  a  syringe,  a  saturated  solution  of  sulphate  of  zinc  being  that 
generally  recommended;  but  I  have  found  the  chloride  answer 
still  better,  using  one  drachm  of  the  salt  to  a  pint  of  water  at  first, 
and  going  on  up  to  two  drachms.  By  injecting  this  daily,  and  in- 
troducing a  piece  of  lint,  wetted  with  it,  into  the  superior  opening, 
leaving  the  lower  one  free,  I  have  cured  many  bad  quittors,  even 
when  there  was  evidence  of  caries  of  the  coffin-joint.  The  disease 
requires  a  careful  adjustment  of  the  remedies  to  its  extent  and 
nature,  and  a  theoretical  description  of  it  is  of  little  use. 

THRUSH. 
ANY   OFFENSIVE    DISCHARGE    FROM  THE  FROG  is  Called  by  this 

name,  although  the  cause  and  treatment  may  be  as  different  as 
possible.  It  varies  greatly  in  the  fore  and  hind  feet  ;  and,  indeed, 
it  must  never  be  forgotten  that,  in  every  case,  the  cause  which 
has  produced  the  discharge  must  be  clearly  made  out  before  any 
plan  of  treatment  can  be  carried  out  with  any  prospect  of  success. 
Sometimes  thrush  is  merely  the  result  of  the  decomposition  of  the 
horny  frog,  from  the  foot  being  constantly  kept  wet  with  urine, 
which  is  most  common  in  the  hind  foot.  Here  the  surface  becomes 
soft,  and  is  gradually  dissolved;  while  the  cleft,  from  its  retaining 
the  moisture,  is  increased  in  size.  This  state  is  often  brought  on 
by  the  too  frequent  use  of  cowdung-stopping  in  horses  with  soft 
frogs;  and,  instead  of  doing  good  by  his  treatment  of  the  foot,  the 
groom  is  really  destroying  it  by  encouraging  the  decomposition  of 
the  healthy  defence  which  Nature  has  given  to  it.  For  this  kind 
of  thrush,  very  little  treatment  is  required,  if  the  cause  vhich 
produced  it  is  withdrawn.  Still  it  is  not  always  easy  to  keep  the 
frog  dry,  and  stop  the  decomposition,  without  the  application  of 
some  astringent ;  and  if  the  mere  use  of  dry  litter,  and  the  appli- 
cation of  tar  ointment,  do  not  seem  to  harden  the  frog  at  once,  it 
may  be  touched  with  a  wash  composed  of  ten  grains  of  bluestone 
to  the  ounce  of  water.  This  will  soon  dry  it;  or,  if  it  fails  by  any 
chance,  the  chloride  of  zinc  may  be  used  in  the  same  way,  by 
dissolving  five  grains  in  an  ounce  of  water. 

THE  SECOND  KIND  OF  THRUSH  is  that  in  which  from  a  gross 
habit  of  body  there  is  a  simple  inflammation  of  the  sensible  frog, 
and  instead  of  sound  horn  being  secreted,  a  spongy  substance  is 
34*  2c 


402  THE  HORSE. 

deposited,  which  breaks  away  in  places,  and  the  frog  looks  ragged 
and  uneven,  with  a  greasy  surface,  smells  very  foul,  and  feels  hot 
to  the  touch.  Here  the  treatment  must  be  general  as  well  as  local. 
A  dose  of  physic  should  be  given,  the  food  should  be  of  a  less 
stimulating  quality,  and  care  should  be  taken  that  regular  exercise 
is  allowed  every  day.  The  stable  should  be  kept  cool,  and  of 
course  attention  should  be  paid  to  cleanliness  both  of  the  foot  and 
the  litter.  As  to  local  remedies,  they  must  not  be  of  the  stimu- 
lating kind,  which  will  suit  the  thrush  from  decomposition,  or  that 
presently  to  be  described.  The  foot  should  be  placed  in  a  bran 
poultice,  and  kept  in  it  for  some  days,  till  the  united  action  of  the 
local  and  general  treatment  have  reduced  the  inflammation.  After 
a  few  days  it  will  be  well  to  dress  the  frog  with  tar  ointment,  or 
the  poultice  will  do  more  harm  than  good,  by  causing  the  decom- 
position of  its  horny  covering,  and  indeed  it  is  seldom  that  this 
wet  application  should  be  employed  for  more  than  a  week.  After 
this  time  has  elapsed,  all  the  good  to  be  derived  from  it  has  been 
accomplished,  and  the  subsequent  treatment  may  generally  be 
effected  by  attention  to  the  health,  and  dressing  the  frog  with  tar 
ointment.  Sometimes  it  may  be  necessary  to  employ  a  slight 
stimulus,  and  then  the  solution  of  chloride  of  zinc  will  be  found  to 
be  the  best. 

THE  THIRD  KIND  op  THRUSH  occurs  in  contracted  feet,  and  is 
due  to  the  same  cause,  namely,  chronic  inflammation  of  the  sensi- 
ble frog,  produced  by  overwork,  aided  in  many  cases  by  neglect  in 
shoeing.  There  is  a  tendency  to  the  secretion  of  unsound  horn 
over  the  whole  foot,  sometimes  too  thick  and  hard,  and  at  others 
of  a  cellular  structure,  without  sufficient  strength  to  bear  the  pressure 
of  the  road.  The  horny  frog  generally  looks  shrunken  and  withered ; 
and  in  its  cleft  there  is  a  foul  discharge,  on  wiping  which  out  a 
soft  spongy  matter  may  be  seen  at  the  bottom,  which  is  the  sensible 
frog  itself,  but  in  a  diseased  condition.  In  bad  cases,  the  sides  of 
the  horny  frog  have  separated,  and  even  the  toe  is  sometimes  defi- 
cient of  its  covering  j  but  generally  the  horn  has  only  disappeared 
in  patches,  and  there  are  ragged  portions  remaining.  The  disease 
here  is  of  too  chronic  a  nature  to  be  easily  cured,  and  if  there  is 
much  disorganization  of  the  laminae  it  will  be  almost  impossible  to 
effect  a  perfect  cure.  The  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  clear  away 
all  the  ragged  portions  of  horn,  so  as  to  be  able  to  reach  the  sensi- 
ble frog.  Some  tow  is  then  to  be  smeared  with  the  following  oint- 
ment : — 

Take  of  Ointment  of  Nitrate  of  Mercury     ....     1  drachm. 

Zinc  Ointment        1  oz. 

Creosote        4  drops.     Mix. 

and  pressed  into  the  cleft  of  the  frog,  where  it  can  best  be  retained 


THRUSH— CANKER— LAMINITIS.  403 

by  a  bar-shoe  lightly  tacked  on,  and  in  this  case  taking  its  bearing 
on  the  heels  and  not  on  the  frog.  Sometimes  a  wash  answers 
better  than  a  greasy  application,  and  then  a  strong  solution  of  the 
chloride  of  zinc  may  be  employed,  about  six  grains  to  the  ounce 
of  water.  Tow  dipped  in  this  may  be  applied  in  the  same  way  as 
with  the  ointment,  and  either  one  or  the  other  should  be  re-ap- 
plied every  day.  As  the  new  horn  grows,  it  must  be  kept  supple 
by  tar  ointment,  and  until  it  is  fully  developed  the  bar-shoe  should 
be  kept  on,  applying  some  degree  of  pressure  by  means  of  the  tow, 
which  should  be  stuffed  in  so  as  to  compress  the  frog,  beginning 
with  very  light  pressure,  and,  as  the  horn  increases  in  substance, 
augmenting  it  in  proportion.  By  attention  to  these  directions  a 
thrush  of  this  kind  may  be  cured,  if  the  foot  is  not  damaged 
throughout,  and  even  the  frog  may  be  restored  to  a  comparative 
state  of  health. 

CANKER. 

CANKER  is  generally  an  extension  of  the  third  form  of  thrush, 
the  ulceration  spreading  to  the  sensible  sole,  and  afterwards  to  the 
coffin-bone  itself.  At  first  the  ulcerated  surface  is  concealed  by  the 
old  horn,  but  gradually  this  breaks  away,  and  then  the  extent  of 
the  mischief  may  be  seen.  A  part  or  the  whole  of  the  sole  and  the 
frog  may  be  in  a  state  of  ulceration,  generally  depending  upon  the 
time  during  which  the  disease  has  been  in  existence,  and  the  care 
which  has  been  taken  of  it,  or  the  reverse.  The  only  treatment  to 
be  adopted  is  the  careful  removal  of  every  loose  piece  of  horn,  so 
as  to  expose  the  unsound  surface  to  the  action  of  remedies,  and  at 
the  same  time  to  avoid  poisoning  it  by  the  decomposing  horn,  which 
has  a  most  irritating  effect.  The  sulphate  of  copper,  and  chloride 
of  zinc,  are  the  best  applications,  and  they  must  be  used  in  full 
strength.  These  cases,  however,  require  an  experienced  eye  to 
enable  the  prescriber  to  judge  of  the  proper  amount  of  caustic  re- 
quired; and  beyond  suggesting  the  kind  of  remedy  required,  no 
good  can  be  done  by  written  prescriptions.  If  it  is  impossible  to 
obtain  the  advice  of  a  veterinarian,  it  will  be  better  to  begin  by 
using  a  mild  caustic,  and  then  increase  the  strength  as  it  is  found 
to  be  wanted.  Pitch  ointment  forms  the  best  greasy  application  to 
the  adjacent  sound  surfaces  to  protect  them  from  the  irritation  of 
the  discharge. 

LAMINITIS. 
(Founder  or  Fever  of  the  Feet.} 

THE  TERM  LAMINITIS  is  now  familiar  with  every  one  at  all  ac- 
customed to  horses,  though  it  has  not  long  been  introduced  intc 
the  vocabulary  of  the  professional  man.  The  disease,  however, 
has  been  recognised  for  many  years  under  the  terms  "founder" 
and  "  fe^er  of  the  feet."  It  consists  in  an  inflammation  (which 


404  THE  HORSE. 

may  be  acute  or  chronic)  of  the  parts  between  the  crust  or  wall 
and  the  pedal  bone,  including  the  laminae,  whence  the  name  by 
which  it  is  now  distinguished.  These  parts  are  supplied  with  a 
profusion  of  blood-vessels  (see  page  294),  and  when  inflammation 
is  set  up  in  them,  the  progress  which  it  makes  is  rapid,  and  the 
constitutional  disturbance  is  unusually  great,  owing  probably  to 
the  want  of  space  for  the  swelling  which  accompanies  all  inflamma- 
tions, and  especially  of  vascular  substances.  The  causes  are  either, 
1st.  Localization  of  fever,  whence  the  name  "  fever  in  the  feet." 
2d.  The  mechanical  irritation  of  hard  roads  upon  feet  not  accus- 
tomed to  them  ]  and  3d.  Long  confinement  in  a  standing  position 
on  board  ship.  When  it  is  recollected  that  in  our  system  of  shoe- 
ing, the  laminae  are  made  to  support  the  whole  weight  of  the  body 
in  consequence  of  the  shoe  being  in  contact  with  the  crust  only,  it 
can  only  occasion  surprise  that  this  disease  is  not  more  frequent. 
Nature*  framed  the  horse's  foot  so  that  an  elastic  pad  should  inter- 
pose between  its  back  parts  and  the  ground,  intending  that  the 
edge  of  the  crust  should  take  its  share,  but  not  all  of  the  weight. 
The  laminae  are  therefore  called  upon  to  do  far  more  than  their 
structure  is  designed  for,  and  when  there  is  the  slightest  weakness 
or  tendency  to  inflammation,  they  are  sure  to  suffer.  Acute  lami- 
nitis  is  not  very  often  met  with,  because  horsemen  are  aware  of 
the  risks  they  run,  and  take  their  measures  accordingly;  but  the 
chronic  form  is  common  enough,  and  hundreds  of  horses  are  more 
or  less  lame  from  this  cause.  Too  often  it  is  not  suspected  until 
irreparable  mischief  is  done,  the  elasticity  of  the  laminae  being  de- 
stroyed, and  the  foot  having  assumed  a  shape  which  utterly  unfits 
it  for  bearing  the  pressure  of  the  shoe  upon  hard  roads.  When 
the  disease  has  been  going  on  for  a  long  time,  the  elastic  substances 
between  the  laminae  and  the  pedal  bone,  as  well  as  the  fine  horny 
lamellae  between  them  and  the  crust,  lose  the  property  of  extension, 
and  the  horn  of  the  crust  is  secreted  by  nature  of  a  more  spongy 
character,  and  much  thicker  in  substance,  than  in  health.  On 
making  a  section  of  such  a  foot,  the  arrangement  of  parts  will  be 
such  as  is  here  delineated  in  fig.  19,  in  which  1  is  the  os  suffraginis, 
2,  the  os  coronae,  and  3,  the  pedal  bone,  with  its  anterior  surface 
separated  from  that  of  the  crust  (7)  by  a  wide  space  occupied  by 
spongy  matter.  Here  the  toe  of  the  pedal  bone  projects  into  the 
sole  and  renders  it  convex,  instead  of  being  concave,  and  correspond- 
ing with  the  lower  surface  of  the  pedal  bone. 

The  laminae  and  elastic  substances  between  them  and  their 
contiguous  structures  no  longer  suspend  the  pedal  bone  to  the 
crust,  but  the  weight  falls  partly  upon  the  sole  by  means  of  the 
toe  of  the  pedal  bone,  and  partly  on  the  frog,  which  descends  so 
low  that  in  spite  of  the  thickness  of  the  shoe  it  touches  the  ground. 


LAMINITIS. 


405 


LAMINITIS. 

Os  suffraginis. 

Os  coronas. 

Pedal  bone. 

Navicular  bone. 

Frog. 

Sole. 

Wall  or  crust  greatly  thickened. 


This  descent  of  the  frog  is  a  very 
marked  feature  in  laminitis,  and 
whenever  it  is  apparent  that  dis- 
ease may  be  suspected. 

13UT      TO      PRODUCE      SUCH     A 
MARKED    ALTERATION    OF    FORM 

as  is  here  delineated  and  de- 
scribed takes  a  long  time,  and 
even  then  it  is  only  in  a  few 
cases  that  the  disease  reaches  to 
this  stage.  It  will,  therefore,  be 
necessary  to  trace  its  progress  from 
the  commencement,  and  the  effects 
which  are  exhibited  as  it  goes  on. 
WHEN  ACUTE  LAMJNITIS  SETS 

IN.  there  is  a  considerable  amount    FIG.  19.— SECTION  OF  THE  FOOT  IN  CONFIRMED 

of  fever,  indicated  by  a  rapid 
pulse,  usually  full  and  hard,  and 
hurried  respiration.  There  is  a 
general  look  of  restlessness  from 
pain,  the  horse  stamping  gently 
with  his  feet,  and  constantly 
lying  down  and  then  getting  up  again.  When,  as  usually  happens, 
the  fore  feet  only  are  affected,  the  hind  feet  are  brought  under  the 
body  to  bear  as  much  weight  as  possible,  and  the  fore  feet  are  so 
carried  forwards  that  the  heels  support  the  legs  rather  than  the 
toes.  On  examining  the  feet,  there  is  great  reluctance  to  allow 
one  to  be  picked  up,  on  account  of  the  necessity  which  is  thrown 
upon  the  other  of  taking  the  whole  weight  of  the  fore  quarter. 
The  coronet  and  hoof  feel  very  hot,  and,  when  wetted,  may  be  seen 
to  steam  very  perceptibly.  If  this  state  of  things  is  not  speedily 
stopped,  the  laminae  cease  to  secrete  horn,  and  the  connection  be- 
tween them  and  the  hoof  ceases,  causing  the  latter  to  separate,  and 
the  sensible  parts  to  be  exposed,  covered  with  a  thin  scaly  horn. 
This  has  happened  in  many  cases  which  have  afterwards  secreted 
new  hoofs;  but  the  horn  is  not  so  strong  and  useful  as  before,  and  a 
horse  with  such  feet  is  not  fit  for  hard  work  on  the  road.  If  proper 
treatment  is  adopted,  the  inflammation  either  subsides  entirely, 
leaving  no  mischief  behind  it,  or  there  is  a  chronic  inflammation 
left  which  induces  the  alterations  of  structure  which  have  been 
alluded  to.  The  treatment  should  be  by  first  removing  the  shoes, 
and  then,  after  paring  down  the  sole  so  as  to  allow  of  the  expansion 
of  the  sensible  parts,  a  large  quantity  of  blood  is  taken  from  the 
toe,  making  sure  that  a  vessel  of  sufficient  size  is  opened  to  produce 
a  strong  shock  on  the  heart  and  arteries,  as  well  as  to  relieve  the 
local  affection.  If  the  blood  does  not  flow  freely,  the  foot  may  be 


406  THE  HORSE. 

placed  in  a  pail  of  warm  water,  but  when  the  operation  is  properly 
performed  there  is  never  any  difficulty  in  obtaining  any  quantity 
of  blood  which  may  be  required.  Next  tack  the  shoes  on  lightly 
again,  and  then  give  a  smart  dose  of  physic,  or  else,  what  is  per- 
haps a  better  plan,  give  the  following: — 

Take  of  Barbadoes  Aloes 

Tartar  Emetic,  of  each 1  drachm. 

Powdered  Digitalis £  drachm. 

Syrup  enough  to  form  a  ball, 

which  should  be  given  every  six  hours,  until  the  bowels  act,  when 
the  other  materials  may  be  continued  without  the  aloes.  The  feet 
should  be  kept  constantly  wet  and  cool  by  tying  a  piece  of  felt  or 
flannel  around  each  pastern,  and  allowing  it  to  fall  over  the  hoof, 
when  it  is  to  be  continually  wetted.  If  the  inflammation  is  not 
abated  next  day,  the  bleeding  may  be  repeated,  and  it  will  be  well 
also  to  act  on  the  kidneys  by  adding  two  or  three  drachms  of  nitre 
to  the  tartar  emetic  and  digitalis. 

CHRONIC  LAMINITIS  is  generally  first  shown  by  a  slight  soreness 
or  lameness,  generally  appearing  in  both  fore  feet,  and,  therefore, 
being  often  overlooked  by  casual  observers.  In  coming  in  from 
work  the  coronets  feel  warmer  than  natural ;  but  this  goes  off  dur- 
ing the  night,  and,  for  a  time,  no  great  fears  are  entertained  of  the 
feet  recovering  their  former  condition,  the  blame  being,  perhaps, 
laid  upon  the  shoe.  In  a  month  or  two,  however,  the  smith  (who 
has,  perhaps,  been  ordered  to  take  off  the  shoes  two  or  three  times, 
by  which  the  injury  is  increased)  finds  that  his  nails  do  not  hold, 
and  the  quarters  break  away ;  while  the  action  of  the  horse  be- 
comes more  shambling  every  day,  and  he  cannot  make  a  sound  trot 
on  any  hard  road,  especially  with  a  weight  on  his  back.  In  many 
cases  a  horse  with  chronic  laminitis  can  run  in  hand  sound  enough 
for  an  ordinary  observer;  but  when  the  extra  weight  of  a  rider  is 
placed  on  him  the  feet  cannot  bear  the  pain,  and  the  gait  is  sham- 
bling in  the  extreme.  Such  animals  have  a  strong  propensity  to 
save  their  toes,  and  prefer  (if  their  shoulders  will  allow  it)  bring- 
ing their  heels  to  the  ground  first,  so  that,  although  their  action  is 
excessively  low  and  shambling,  they  seldom  fall.  An  experienced 
horseman  at  once  detects  this  peculiar  style  of  going,  and  con- 
demns its  possessor  for  laminitis.  Indeed,  it  may  be  assumed  as  a 
rule,  that  wherever  the  heel  is  put  carefully  down  upon  the  ground 
with  low  action,  the  foot  is  the  subject  of  laminitis  to  some  extent. 
When  the  heel  is  naturally  brought  to  the  ground  first,  the  knee 
is  well  bent,  and  the  foot  is  raised  high  in  the  air ;  but  in  process 
of  time  work  tells  on  it,  the  laminae  become  inflamed,  and  then  the 
action  is  reduced  in  height,  and  the  feet  are  moved  in  the  manner 
peculiar  to  foundered  horses,  including  those  which  before  they 
were  foundered  perhaps  exhibited  "  toe  action,"  or,  at  all  events, 


LAMINITIS.  407 

a  level  fall  of  the  foot.  This  state  of  disease  ought  to  be  well 
studied,  and  compared  with  the  remarks  on  sound  action  at  page 
82  et  seq.,  which  it  will  serve  to  illustrate  and  explain.  The  foot 
itself  is  changed  in  form,  and  the  toe  and  sole  have  more  or  less 
altered  their  relations,  as  explained  already.  Sometimes  there  is 
a  large  space  or  cavity  between  the  outer  surface  and  the  inner, 
shown  at  7,  fig.  19,  page  405.  This  hollow  in  the  crust  is  more  or 
less  cellular,  and  the  disease  is  called  a  "  seedy  toe,"  but  for  what 
reason  I  am  at  a  loss  to  know.  The  sole,  moreover,  is  always  either 
flatter  than  natural  or  absolutely  convex,  and  its  horn  is  brittle  and 
spongy,  constituting  what  is  termed  the  "  pumiced  foot."  The 
frog  is  generally  large  and  spongy;  and  on  placing  a  straight-edge 
across  the  shoe,  from  heel  to  heel,  it  is  found  to  touch  that  part, 
or  nearly  so,  indicating  that  the  relations  between  it  and  the  crust, 
as  well  as  the  sole,  are  altogether  changed  from  a  natural  state. 
The  laminae  are  no  longer  slings  for  the  foot,  but  the  whole  pres- 
sure is  taken  by  the  parts  lying  beneath  the  pedal  or  coffin  bone 
and  the  navicular  bone.  Such  being  the  symptoms,  the  next  thing 
is  to  consider  what  can  be  done.  If  the  disease  is  of  long  stand- 
ing, little  hope  can  be  given  of  a  perfect  recovery.  The  shape  of 
the  external  parts  may  be  partially  restored,  but  the  internal  deli- 
cate structures  no  longer  have  the  power  of  performing  their  offices ; 
and  the  elastic  action  of  the  horse  suffering  from  the  effects 
of  laminitis  can  seldom  be  restored  on  hard  ground.  After  proper 
treatment,  he  may,  and  generally  does,  go  on  turf  well;  but  either 
on  hard  ground  or  on  plough  (on  the  latter  of  which,  though  soft 
enough  for  the  laminae,  the  sole  has  to  bear  considerable  pressure) 
he  is  dreadfully  sore  and  lame.  This  is  shown  after  all  inflamma- 
tion has  ceased,  the  foot  being  as  cool  as  possible,  and  sometimes 
exhibiting  very  slight  evidences  of  previous  mischief. 

In  treating  such  cases,  if  there  is  no  heat  or  other  sign  of  in- 
flammation, bleeding  and  similar  lowering  measures  will  be  of  no 
avail.  They  may  be  required  soon  enough,  it  is  true,  for  a  foun- 
dered foot  is  always  in  danger  of  inflammation  when  battered ; 
but  until  symptoms  of  this  kind  of  mischief  are  exhibited  it  is 
better  to  avoid  all  depletory  measures.  At  the  same  time,  every- 
thing which  will  tend  to  keep  off  increased  action  should  be 
avoided ;  the  horse  should  be  fed  on  the  least  heating  food  which 
will  serve  the  purpose  for  which  he  is  intended,  and  his  stable 
should  be  kept  as  cool  as  possible.  Beans  ought  never  to  be 
allowed  to  the  possessor  of  feet  with  the  slightest  suspicion  of 
founder;  and  no  more  oats  should  be  used  than  are  necessary  for 
the  condition  required.  For  horses  at  slow  work,  bran  mashes 
and  nitre,  with  small  doses  occasionally  of  physic,  will  serve  to 
keep  down  the  tendency  to  inflammation,  and  by  their  use,  joined 
to  cold  applications  after  work  (they  are  of  no  use  at  other  times), 


408  THE  HORSE. 

and  a  cool  stable,  the  horse  may  be  enabled  to  do  moderately  fast 
work.  If  the  frog  is  not  very  prominent,  a  leather  sole,  put  on 
in  the  usual  way,  will  save  the  jar,  and  in  some  measure  supply 
the  place  of  the  natural  elastic  tissue,  destroyed  in  this  disease. 
Usually,  however,  it  only  adds  to  the  mischief  by  increasing  the 
pressure  on  the  frog,  and  then  the  leather  must  be  introduced 
between  the  foot  and  the  shoe,  but  cut  to  the  same  shape  as  the 
latter,  so  as  not  at  all  to  bear  on  the  frog.  Many  horses  with  slight 
traces  of  laminitis  can  work  for  years  with  leather  applied  in  this 
way,  and  it  may  be  said  to  be  the  most  useful  mode  of  treating 
this  disease  when  exhibited  in  a  mild  form.  Sometimes  by  throw- 
ing a  horse  by  for  six  months,  taking  off  his  shoes,  and  blistering 
his  coronets  two  or  three  times,  a  great  deal  of  good  may  be  done, 
but  he  must  be  put  to  stand  on  tan  or  sawdust  during  the  whole 
time,  and  never  allowed  to  go  on  hard  ground,  even  for  half  a  mile 
at  a  walking  pace.  By  this  plan,  and  by  very  careful  and  gradual 
increase  of  exercise  at  the  end  of  that  time,  I  have  succeeded  in 
restoring  an  elastic  condition  of  the  foot;  but  I  have  never  known 
one  so  patched  up  bear  hard  work,  and  I  should  never  advise  the 
risk  incurred  by  submitting  him  to  it.  Hunting  and  racing,  or, 
indeed,  any  kind  of  work  on  soft  ground,  will  do  no  harm ;  but 
battering  on  the  roads,  especially  without  leather,  applied  as  above 
described,  is  sure  to  bring  back  the  inflammation. 

THE  SEEDY  TOE. 

THIS  TERM  is  so  generally  employed  among  horsemen,  that 
though  the  state  which  it  describes  is  one  of  the  ordinary  con- 
sequences of  laminitis,  I  prefer  to  give  it  a  distinct  section.  I 
have  already  described  its  nature  in  the  preceding  page,  and  have 
only  now  to  allude  to  its  treatment.  This  may  generally  be  so 
conducted  as  to  restore  the  shape  of  the  foot,  if  the  inflammation 
has  not  lowered  the  toe  of  the  pedal  bone,  as  shown  at  fig.  1  ;  for 
if  this  has  taken  place,  although  it  is  perhaps  possible  to  get  rid 
of  the  cavities  in  the  horn,  the  relative  positions  of  the  bony  parts 
cannot  be  changed.  When,  however,  as  is  often  the  case,  a 
moderately  small  hollow  has  been  formed  between  the  layers  of 
the  wall,  and  the  foot  retains  a  tolerably  healthy  shape,  by  cutting 
away  all  the  external  horny  walls,  exposing  the  parts  in  contact 
with  the  laminae,  and  resting  the  horse  in  a  loose  box,  the  secret- 
ing surface  will  form  a  new  wall,  without  any  spongy  texture,  in 
the  course  of  three  or  four  months,  if  the  coronary  band  is  con- 
stantly stimulated  by  external  applications.  To  effect  this,  the 
horse  should  be  put  to  stand  on  red  deal  sawdust,  without  shoes ; 
and  his  coronets,  after  being  gently  stimulated  by  a  mild  liquid 
blister,  should  be  kept  dressed  with  tar  ointment,  which  should 
also  be  applied  to  the  exterior  of  the  horn.  It  is  seldom,  how- 


CONTRACTION  OF  THE  FOOT— NAVICULAR  DISEASE.      409 

ever,  that  a  foot  which  has  been  thus  treated  is  sufficiently  sound 
to  bear  hard  work. 

CONTRACTION  OF  THE  FOOT. 

THIS  REPUTED  DISEASE  has  been  long  the  bugbear  of  the  horse- 
master  •  but  it  is  now  discovered  to  be  a  complete  mistake.  Some 
of  the  most  contracted  feet  in  point  of  width  are  particularly  free 
from  all  risk  of  disease,  and  on  the  other  hand  many  open  ones 
are  as  liable  to  it.  The  donkey,  whose  heels  are  shaped  exactly 
like  those  of  the  contracted  horse's  foot,  is  so  seldom  lame,  that 
few  can  recall  having  seen  one  in  that  condition,  and,  therefore, 
reasoning  from  analogy,  one  would  be  led  to  doubt  that  this  shape 
renders  the  horse  prone  to  lameness.  At  the  same  time  it  is  quite 
true  that  in  the  disease  which  will  next  be  investigated,  the  frog 
withers  and  contracts,  and  the  heels  are  thereby  drawn  in  ;  but 
here  the  contraction  is  a  consequence  and  not  a  cause  of  disease, 
and  certainly  cannot  be  considered  as  a  disease  in  itself.  Bad 
shoeing  will  do  much  to  cause  either  laminitis  or  navicular  disease, 
and  it  will  certainly  produce  corns  and  inverted  heels,  but  it  will 
not  waste  the  frog,  or  induce  that  condition  of  the  foot  where  the 
sole  is  arched  so  high  that  the  frog  does  not  touch  the  ground 
when  the  shoe  is  off.  Such  a  state  of  things  can  only  be  brought 
on  either  by  thrush  or  navicular  disease,  and  is  never  the  result 
of  the  mechanical  mismanagement  of  the  foot,  to  which  what  used 
to  be  called  contraction  was  generally  attributed.  All  sorts  of 
plans  have  been  suggested  for  expanding  the  heels  and  for  allow- 
ing them  to  expand  ;  but  the  real  truth  is  that  so  long  as  the  frog  is 
sound  and  the  parts  above  it,  allowing  the  proper  amount  of  pres- 
sure to  be  communicated  to  the  sole,  bars  and  heel  of  the  crust, 
these  latter  divisions  of  the  foot  have  no  room  to  contract,  and  of 
a  certainty  they  never  do. 

NAVICULAE  DISEASE. 

THIS  FORMIDABLE  DISEASE,  called  also  the  navicular  joint 
lameness,  and  navicularthritis,  is  the  chief  danger  to  be  appre- 
hended from  a  good-looking  strong  foot,  just  as- the  open  flat  one 
is  prone  to  laminitis,  and  is  rarely  subject  to  disease  in  the  navicu- 
lar joint.  The  reason  of  this  immunity  on  the  one  hand,  and  the 
contrary  on  the  other,  is  this.  The  Open  foot,  with  a  large  spongy 
frog,  exposes  the  navicular  bone  and  the  parts  in  contact  with  it 
to  constant  pressure  in  the  stable,  so  that  these  parts  are  always 
prepared  for  work.  On  the  other  hand,  the  concave  sole  and  well- 
formed  frog  are  raised  from  the  ground  by  our  unfortunate  mode 
of  shoeing,  and  when  the  whole  foot  is  exposed  to  injury  from  bat- 
tering, and  in  addition  the  tendon  which  plays  over  the  navicular 
35 


410  THE  HORSE. 

bone  presses  it  against  the  os  coronse,  the  unprepared  state  in 
which  this  part  is  allowed  to  remain  is  sure  to  produce  inflamma- 
tion, if  the  work  is  carried  far  enough.  Thus  in  each  case  the 
weak  part  suffers,  but  occasionally,  though  very  rarely,  the  foot 
with  an  arched  sole  contracts  laminitis,  and  the  flat  one  is  attacked 
by  navicular  disease;  the  exceptions,  however,  are  so  few  that 
they  may  be  thrown  out  of  the  calculation,  and  from  the  shape  of 
the  foot  alone  it  may  almost  invariably  be  pronounced,  when  a 
horse  is  known  to  be  subject  to  chronic  lameness,  whether  its  seat 
is  in  the  laminae  or  in  the  navicular  joint. 

WHEN  A  FOOT  is  EXAMINED  AFTER  DEATH  which  is  known  to 
have  been  the  subject  of  navicular  disease,  the  parts  implicated 
are  invariably  either  the  navicular  bone,  or  the  soft  parts  in  con- 
tact with  it,  or  often  all  together.  Most  frequently  on  dividing 
the  tendon  of  the  flexor  perforans  and  turning  it  down  so  as  to 
expose  the  back  of  the  joint  between  the  navicular  and  coronal 
bones,  that  part  will  be  greatly  thickened  and  inflamed,  the  tendon 
being  often  adherent  to  it.  In  the  healthy  condition  there  ought 
to  be  no  adhesion  of  the  fibres  of  the  tendon  to  any  part  of  the 
navicular  bone  but  its  postero-inferior  edge,  to  which  the  tendon 
is  fixed  by  some  few  fibres,  the  bulk  passing  on  to  be  inserted  in 
the  os  pedis.  The  posterior  face  of  the  navicular  bone  should  be 
beautifully  smooth,  and  lined  by  synovia!  membrane  which  forms 
a  lubricating  sac  for  it  to  play  upon,  and  thus  take  off  the  friction 
between  the  tendon  and  the  bone.  Such  is  nature's  provision 
against  mischief  in  this  delicate  part  of  the  machinery  of  the  foot, 
which  she  keeps  in  order  by  the  constant  supply  of  synovia  or 
joint  oil.  But  when  the  sac  is  not  stimulated  to  a  healthy  action 
by  the  pressure  of  the  frog  below  it  in  doors  and  out,  synovia  is 
no  longer  secreted  in  proper  quantity,  and  as  soon  as  the  horse  is 
put  to  hard  work  inflammation  takes  place  for  want  of  it.  The 
result  is  some  one  of  the  consequences  of  inflamed  joints.  Either 
ulceration  takes  place  in  the  postero-inferior  surface,  where  the 
tendon  glides  over  it,  sometimes  ending  in  caries  of  the  bone  itself; 
or  adhesion  takes  place  without  ulceration  of  the  tendon  with  the 
surface  of  the  bone,  or  there  are  small  exostoses  thrown  out,  or 
lastly  there  is  simple  inflammation  without  either  adhesion  or 
uloeration,  and  in  this  stage  the  disease  is  amenable  to  treatment 
without  leaving  any  trace  behind. 

The  symptoms  of  navicular  disease  are  the  same,  whether  the 
mischief  has  extended  to  ulceration  or  not;  but  the  history  will 
guide  us  in  ascertaining  how  far  it  has  gone.  Of  course  they  vary 
in  degree,  for  there  may  be  only  a  slight  extent  of  ulceration,  or  a 
high  degree  of  simple  inflammation  ;  but  in  the  former  case  the 
lameness  will  not  be  so  marked  as  in  the  latter,  though  the  prospect 
of  recovery  will  be  much  less.  There  is  always  more  or  less  lame- 


NAVICULAR  DISEASE.  411 

ness;  but,  in  consequence  of  its  affecting  both  feet,  it  is  not  so 
marked  to  the  careless  observer  as  in  some  much  more  trivial  cases 
where  only  one  is  diseased.  The  distinguishing  sign,  though  not 
absolutely  infallible,  is  the  pointing  of  the  toe,  and  a  peculiar 
rounding  forward  of  the  fetlock  joint,  so  as  to  relieve  the  navicular 
bone  of  any  weight.  In  larninitis,  the  object  of  the  sufferer  is  to 
relieve  all  pressure  as  much  as  possible,  by  bringing  the  hind  legs 
under  the  body,  and  by  bearing  the  weight  of  the  fore  quarter  on 
the  heels.  Here,  the  reverse  of  the  latter  attitude  is  observed — 
the  heels  are  not  allowed  to  take  any  pressure,  and  the  toes  alone 
are  placed  at  all  firmly  on  the  ground.  This  is  marked  in  the 
stable  by  the  pointing  of  the  toe  (in  each  foot  alternately,  if  both 
are  diseased,  but  in  the  one  only,  if  they  are  not  both  affected). 
Out  of  doors,  the  toes  dig  into  the  ground,  the  heel  never  being 
brought  firmly  down,  and  frequent  stumbles  mark  the  difference 
between  this  species  of  lameness  and  laminitis.  The  subject  of 
navicular  disease  generally  walks  sound ;  but  the  moment  he  is 
trotted,  he  goes  as  if  his  legs  were  tied  together,  his  stride  being 
shortened  in  a  remarkable  manner,  but  without  exhibiting  the  pe- 
culiar fumbling  gait  of  the  foundered  animal.  As  in  his  case,  soft 
ground  suits  him,  and  he  has  no  fear  of  plough,  because  his  sole 
is  hard  and  unyielding.  Many  tolerably  confirmed  cases  of  navicu- 
lar disease  may,  therefore,  be  hunted,  except  when  the  ground  is 
hard,  supposing,  of  course,  that  they  are  kept  off  the  road  ;  but  no 
plan  of  management  will  enable  them  to  bear  the  jars  incidental  to 
harness-work  or  hacking.  When  one  foot  only  is  the  subject  of  na- 
vicular disease,  it  often  happens  that  it  is  smaller  altogether  than  the 
other  mj  but  it  is  somewhat  difficult  to  say  whether  this  is  a  cause 
or  a  consequence  of  inflammation.  One  thing  is  quite  clear,  that 
many  horses  are  met  with,  still  perfectly  free  from  lameness,  in 
which  there  is  a  difference  of  size  in  their  fore  feet;  but  whether 
or  no  these  are  afterwards  invariably  the  subjects  of  navicular  dis- 
ease, it  is  almost  impossible  to  ascertain.  It  is,  however,  the  gene- 
ral opinion,  founded  on  experience,  that  when  this  variation  exists, 
navicular  disease  is  extremely  likely  to  attack  the  smaller  foot,  if 
it  is  not  already  there;  and  for  this  reason,  horses  with  such  feet 
are  generally  avoided  by  the  intending  purchaser. 

The  treatment  of  navicular  disease,  as  before  remarked,  is  only 
successful  in  the  early  stage,  before  either  ulceration  or  adhesion 
has  taken  place.  If  a  horse  with  strong  concave  soles  suddenly 
becomes  lame,  points  his  toe,  and  shows  other  signs  that  his  navicu- 
lar bone  is  inflamed,  he  should  be  treated  in  the  usual  way  suited 
to  inflammation,  and  at  the  same  time  liberty  should  be  given  to. 
the  vascular  tissues  to  expand,  by  reducing  the  substance  of  the 
horn.  Bleeding  at  the  toe  has  the  double  good  effect  of  abstract- 
ing blood,  and  at  the  same  time  weakening  the  sole,  so  as  to  allow 


412  THE  HORSE. 

of  the  expansion  which  is  desired.  The  operation  should,  there- 
fore, at  once  be  performed;  at  the  same  time,  the  whole  sole  may 
be  reduced  in  thickness,  and  the  heels  lowered  in  proportion.  The 
foot  should  then  (after  the  shoe  is  tacked  on)  be  placed  in  a  cold 
bran  poultice,  which  will  soften  the  horn ;  and  the  system  should 
be  reduced  by  the  exhibition  of  the  medicines  recommended  under 
Laminitis,  at  page  406.  Next  day,  if  the  pulse  continues  high, 
more  blood  may  be  taken ;  but,  in  ordinary  cases,  it  is  better  at 
once  to  insert  a  seton  in  the  frog  (see  OPERATIONS,  Chap.  XXV.), 
and  trust  to  this  for  relieving  the  chronic  inflammation  remaining, 
by  its  counter-irritation.  But  when  the  disease  itself  is  mastered, 
there  is  still  a  good  deal  to  be  done  to  prevent  the  injurious  effects 
which  are  so  apt  to  follow.  The  horse  contracts  a  habit  of  step- 
ping on  his  toes,  to  prevent  hurting  his  navicular  structures }  and 
hence  the  frog  is  not  used,  the  heels  of  the  crust  and  the  bars  are 
not  strained,  and  there  being  no  stimulus  to  the  soft  parts  which 
secrete  them,  they  waste  and  contract  in  size.  If  the  human  hand 
is  allowed  to  lie  idle,  the  palm  and  the  insides  of  the  fingers  are 
covered  with  a  delicate  cuticle,  which  affords  so  poor  a  protection 
to  the  cutis,  that,  on  using  it  with  any  kind  of  hard  work,  it  actu- 
ally separates,  and  leaves  an  exposed  surface,  which  speedily  in- 
flames. But  by  gradually  exposing  the  same  hand  to  pressure,  a 
thickened  and  tougher  cuticle  is  secreted ;  and  this  will  bear  any 
moderate  amount  of  pressure  or  friction  without  injury.  Never- 
theless, even  the  hand  so  prepared  must  be  continually  stimulated 
by  work,  or  the  skin  returns  to  its  original  delicate  state,  and  is 
then  exposed  to  the  same  risk  of  injury  as  before.  So  it  is  with 
the  horse's  foot,  even  in  a  state  of  health ;  but  this  is  far  more 
marked  after  an  attack  of  disease.  The  tendency  then  is  to  pro- 
duce the  natural  horny  growths  of  a  smaller  substance  than  before; 
and  if  the  secreting  surfaces  are  not  stimulated  by  pressure,  they 
become  doubly  idle,  and  the  frog,  as  well  as  the  adjacent  parts  be- 
neath the  navicular  bone,  shows  a  wasted  and  shrivelled  appearance. 
To  avoid  the  risk  of  these  ill  consequences,  the  horse  should  be 
placed,  for  two  or  three  hours  daily,  on  a  bed  of  wet  clay,  which 
will  allow  the  shoe  to  sink  into  it,  but  will  yet  be  tenacious  enough 
to  make  firm  and  steady  pressure  on  the  frog,  while  its  low  tem- 
perature will  keep  down  inflammation.  No  plan  is  of  so  much  ser- 
vice in  producing  what  is  called  expansion  of  the  heels  and  growth 
of  the  frog  as  this ;  not,  as  is  commonly  supposed,  from  the  clay 
mechanically  pressing  the  heels  out,  but  from  the  stimulus  of  its 
pressure  causing  the  soft  parts  to  secrete  more  horn,  and  of  a 
sounder  quality  than  before. 

SHOULD  THESE  REMEDIES  FAIL  in  restoring  the  foot  affected 
with  navicular  disease  to  a  healthy  state,  recourse  can  only  be  had 
to  the  operation  of  neurotomy,  which  is  perfectly  efficacious  in  re- 


ACCIDENTS  TO  THE  LEGS  AND  FEET.         413 

moving  the  lameness;  and  if  there  is  no  ulceration,  and  merely  an 
adhesion  of  the  tendon  to  the  bone,  it  will,  by  causing  the  horse  to 
step  more  on  his  heels,  effect  an  absolute  improvement  in  the  shape 
of  the  foot,  and  hence  it  has  sometimes  been  considered  to  have 
produced  a  cure.  Where,  however,  there  is  caries  of  the  bone, 
or  even  ulceration  of  the  synovial  membrane,  the  disease  progresses 
even  faster  than  before  the  operation,  and  in  process  of  time  the 
joint  becomes  mechanically  unfit  to  perform  its  duties. 

ACCIDENTS  TO  THE  LEGS  AND  FEET. 

THESE  PARTS  ARE  SUBJECT  to  a  variety  of  accidents,  trifling 
perhaps  in  the  cause  which  produces  them,  but  serious  in  their 
effects,  from  the  lameness  which  ensues.  The  chief  of  these  are 
ordinary  cutting,  speedy  cutting,  and  pricks  of  the  foot  either 
from  putting  the  sole  down  upon  a  nail  or  a  piece  of  glass,  or  driv- 
ing a  nail  improperly  in  shoeing.  Bruises  and  over-reaches  also 
come  under  this  head. 

ORDINARY  CUTTING  may  occur  either  before  or  behind,  the  lat- 
ter being  the  more  common.  It  is  often  met  with  in  poor  horses, 
where  the  flesh  is  so  reduced  in  substance  that  the  legs  are  brought 
nearer  together  than  in  a  proper  condition.  Here  all  that  is  re- 
quired is  patience,  till  the  legs  are  restored  to  their  proper  relative 
position,  taking  care  in  the  mean  time  that  there  is  no  permanent 
injury  done.  Usually  the  iuside  of  one  or  both  feet  strikes  the 
the  fetlock  joint  of  the  other  leg  in  passing  it,  but  sometimes  the 
blow  is  given  higher  up,  and  it  may  occur  anywhere  on  the  cannon 
bone  except  just  below  the  knee,  when  it  is  called  "  speedy  cut- 
ting," which  will  be  separately  considered.  Sometimes  this  blow 
on  the  side  of  the  cannon  bone  is  either  the  cause  or  the  effect  of 
a  splint,  the  blow  of  the  foot  having  a  tendency  to  produce  exos- 
tosis  (See  SPLINTS,  page  298).  But  if  a  splint  is  thrown  out  on  a 
part  of  the  cannon  bone  which  comes  in  the  way  of  the  natural 
action,  the  horse  whose  foot  previously  passed  clear  of  that  part 
of  the  other  leg  will  hit  it,  and  not  only  give  pain,  but  cause  a 
considerable  access  of  inflammation  in  the  previous  enlargement. 
In  the  treatment,  therefore,  of  cutting,  it  is  necessary  to  prevent 
the  habit  being  continued  from  the  swelling  produced  either  by  a 
splint  or  by  previous  blows.  A  horse  perhaps,  either  from  weak- 
ness or  bad  shoeing,  hits  his  leg  and  produces  considerable  swell- 
ing and  soreness.  Here,  unless  the  swelling  is  reduced  or  pro- 
tected, there  is  no  chance  of  preventing  the  cutting,  because  there 
is  a  projection  of  the  swollen  soft  parts  right  in  the  way  of  the 
other  foot.  No  alteration  of  the  shoeing,  and  no  increase  of 
strength  or  flesh,  will  be  of  service  until  the  inflammation  is  re- 
duced, and  the  sore,  if  any  exists,  is  healed,  and  this  can  only  be 
done  either  by  rest  or  by  protecting  the  leg  with  a  boot.  The 


414  THE  HORSE. 

latter  is  the  better  plan,  and  wherever  a  horse  cuts,  it  is,  in  n«y 
opinion,  advisable  to  let  him  wear  a  boot  for  some  weeks,  until  the 
skin  is  quite  sound  again  and  reduced  to  its  proper  thickness.  A 
piece  of  an  old  rug  folded  round  the  leg  so  as  slightly  to  overlap, 
and  then  tied  with  a  tape  and  turned  down  over  the  fetlock  joint, 
is  quite  sufficient  to  serve  this  temporary  purpose,  and  being  soft 
it  is  well  calculated  to  protect  a  swollen  joint;  but  if  it  is  worn 
for  any  length  of  time,  the  pressure  of  the  tape  and  the  friction 
of  the  grit  from  the  road  wear  away  the  hair,  and  cause  an  un- 
sightly appearance,  which  is  sometimes  permanent.  If,  therefore, 
the  cutting  is  not  rectified  completely  in  the  course  of  a  month  or 
six  weeks,  a  leather  or  india  rubber  boot  should  be  nicely  adapted 
to  the  joint  and  buckled  round  it,  the  flat  surface  of  the  strap  not 
having  so  injurious  an  effect  as  the  tape  of  the  cloth  boot.  When 
the  cutting  takes  place  above  the  joint,  a  pad  must  be  adapted  to 
its  inside,  and  fastened  round  the  cannon  bone  by  two  or  three 
buckles,  according  to  the  height  at  which  the  injury  takes  place. 

SUCH  is  THE  BEST  MODE  of  guarding  against  the  injury  done 
by  cutting,  but  we  must  also  consider  how  it  can  be  entirely  pre- 
vented. In  the  first  place  it  should  be  carefully  ascertained  by 
what  part  of  the  foot  or  shoe  the  blow  is  given.  Most  commonly 
it  will  be  found,  by  chalking  the  inside  of  the  foot,  that  a  small 
patch  is  rubbed  clear  of  chalk,  about  half  an  inch  above  the  mid- 
dle of  the  quarter,  and  corresponding  with  the  hindermost  nail 
hole,  especially  when  four  inside  nails  are  used.  When  this  is  the 
hitting  point,  if  great  care  is  taken  to  avoid  driving  in  a  nail  there, 
the  tendency  to  cut  can  never  be  increased  as  it  often  is  by  a  raised 
clench,  and  at  the  same  time  the  rasp  may  safely  be  used  to  reduce 
the  thickness  of  the  hoof  at  least  the  eighth  of  an  inch,  or  often 
much  more.  The  crust  is  usually  here  about  three-eighths  of  an 
inch  thick,  and  very  often  it  is  so  sound  that  it  will  bear  to  be 
rasped  down  till  there  is  only  one-eighth  left,  provided  it  has  not  to 
bear  the  pressure  of  a  nail  near  it,  and  that  the  reduction  is  not 
carried  up  too  near  to  the  coronet.  In  the  hind  foot  the  quarter 
is  fully  half  an  inch  thick,  and  it  therefore  will  bear  reduction 
better  even  than  the  fore  foot.  Sometimes  the  blow  is  given  by 
the  shoe  itself,  which  is  fixed  on  so  as  to  overlap  the  crust,  and 
then  the  remedy  is  simple  enough,  for  this  ought  never  to  occur, 
and-  can  easily  be  prevented  by  any  smith.  But  supposing,  in  spite 
of  these  precautions,  the  cutting  still  continues  after  the  horse  is 
restored  to  his  natural  strength  and  flesh,  can  anything  be  done 
by  shoeing  ?  In  most  cases  this  question  may  be  answered  in  the 
affirmative,  by  the  use  of  what  is  called  a  feather-edged  shoe.  By 
its  aid  the  heels  are  both  raised,  not  the  inner  one  only  (which  is 
entirely  useless  and  even  prejudicial,  for  then  the  ground  surface 
of  the  shoe  is  not  a  true  plane),  but  both  heels,  the  inner  one  be- 


ACCIDENTS  TO  THE  LEGS  AND  FEET.         415 

ing  narrow,  and  having  no  nail  holes  beyond  the  two  near  the  toe, 
so  that  there  is  no  danger  of  the  web  projecting;  nor  is  there  any 
nail  hole  required,  with  the  fear  of  a  clench  rising,  or  of  the  crust 
being  weakened  so  as  to  prevent  its  being  thinned  to  a  proper  de- 
gree. By  thus  raising  the  heels  (in  the  hind  foot  especially),  the 
fetlock  is  less  bent,  and  as  in  horses  that  cut  there  is  almost  always 
a  tendency  in  their  fetlock  joints  to  bend  inwards  as  well  as  back- 
wards, this  diminution  of  the  angle  will  not  only  straighten  the  leg 
in  a  forward  direction,  but  will  also  increase  the  distance  between 
the  joints,  which  is  the  object  to  be  desired.  In  the  fore  foot  the 
obliquity  in  this  direction  is  not  so  frequent,  and  then  the  high 
heel  will  be  of  no  use ;  indeed,  it  is  only  when  the  toes  are  much 
turned  out  that  this  plan  of  shoeing  the  fore  foot  is  ever  successful. 
When  cutting  occurs  before,  unless  there  is  this  turn  out,  it  is  bet- 
ter to  put  the  shoes  on  in  a  perfectly  level  manner,  and  trust  to  the 
reduction  of  the  thickness  of  the  quarter,  and  the  absence  of  the 
third  nail.  If,  with  these  precautions,  the  horse,  when  in  good 
condition,  still  strikes  his  fore  legs,  it  will  be  better  to  put  up  with 
the  constant  use  of  a  boot.  Generally,  however,  if  the  inflammation 
is  first  subdued,  and  the  foot  is  shod  in  a  perfectly  true  and  level 
manner,  taking  care  to  rasp  away  the  particular  part  which  strikes 
the  other  leg,  it  will  be  found  that  the  cutting  is  avoided. 

SPEEDY  CUTTING  is  more  dangerous  than  ordinary  cutting,  be- 
cause the  pain  given  by  the  blow  is  generally  more  severe,  and  is 
often  so  great  that  the  horse  falls  as  if  he  were  shot.  On  exam- 
ining the  leg  of  a  confirmed  speedy  cutter  there  is  always  appa- 
rent a  small  scab  or  bruise  on  the  inside  of  the  cannon  bone,  im- 
mediately below  the  knee ;  but  in  slight  cases  rest  may  have  been 
used  to  allow  the  skin  to  heal,  and  -then  no  mark  may  possibly  be 
left.  A  careful  examination  will,  however,  generally  detect  a  small 
bare  place,  partially  concealed  by  the  growth  of  the  adjacent  hair. 
In  bad  cases  the  periosteum  is  swollen,  and  there  is  a  considerable 
enlargement  of  the  surface  of  the  bone.  In  the  management  of 
slight  cases  of  this  kind  of  cutting,  the  action  should  be  examined 
while  the  hoof  is  covered  with  chalk,  and  the  latter  should  be 
treated  in  the  same  way  as  already  described.  If,  however,  this  fails, 
as  it  generally  does  in  this  form  of  cutting,  there  is  no  remedy  but 
to  put  on  a  regular  speedy-cut  boot,  in  which  there  is  a  pad  buckled 
on  the  inside  of  the  leg,  and  reaching  from  the  knee  to  the  fetlock. 
It  must  be  of  this  length,  because  otherwise  it  cannot  be  kept  in 
its  place,  as  the  leg  allows  it  to  slip  down  until  it  reaches  the 
larger  circumference  presented  by  the  joint.  Where  there  is  pain 
and  swelling  caused  by  the  contusion,  it  must  be  treated  in  the 
ordinary  way,  by  the  application  of  cold  water  and  tincture  of 
arnica,  a  wine-glassful  of  the  latter  in  two  quarts  of  water. 

PRICKS  IN  SHOEING  occur  from  the  want  of  skill  in  the  smith 


416  THE  HORSE. 

who  drives  the  nail  too  near  the  laminae,  and  sometimes  even  abso- 
lutely wounds  them.  It  may  be  that  the  nail  in  its  passage 
upwards  is  not  within  an  eighth  of  an  inch  of  these  delicate  parts, 
and  the  horse  may  not  have  flinched  during  the  driving  of  it,  but 
when  he  is  put  to  work  the  nail  opposes  a  hard  unyielding  line  to 
the  soft  parts,  inflammation  is  established,  and  possibly  even  matter 
is  formed  which  may  end  in  quittor.  When,  on  the  day  after 
shoeing,  a  horse  which  was  previously  sound,  goes  lame,  and  the 
foot  is  hot  to  the  touch,  it  may  generally  be  assumed  that  a  nail 
or  nails  have  been  driven  too  near  to  the  quick,  unless  there  is 
evidence  of  laminitis  from  other  causes.  On  tapping  the  crust  with 
a  hammer,  the  horse  will  flinch  at  some  particular  spot,  and  there 
is  the  nail  which  is  in  fault.  Sometimes  there  is  little  inflamma- 
tion as  yet  set  up,  but  the  pressure  of  the  nail  is  sufficient  to  cause 
lameness,  and  in  either  case  the  shoe  should  be  taken  off.  Then, 
if  there  is  reason  to  suppose  that  matter  has  formed,  the  opening 
from  which  the  nail  came  out  should  be  enlarged,  and  the  matter 
allowed  to  escape.  If,  however,  the  foot  has  been  merely  "  bound," 
it  may  be  either  left  to  nature,  with  a  shoe  lightly  tacked  on,  and 
a  wet  "  swab"  round  the  coronet,  or  it  may  be  placed  in  a  bran 
poultice,  which  is  the  safest  plan. 

WHEN  A  NAIL  is  PICKED  UP  ON  THE  ROAD,  the  prognosis 
will  depend  upon  the  part  which  it  has  penetrated.  If  it  has 
entered  deeply  into  the  toe  of  the  frog,  the  probability  is  that  the 
navicular  joint  has  been  wounded,  or  probably  the  tendon  of  the 
flexor  at  its  insertion  into  the  pedal  bone,  either  of  which  are  very 
serious  accidents.  If  the  wound  is  further  back,  there  is  less  risk 
of  permanent  injury,  as  the  bulbous  heels  or  cushion  of  the  frog 
will  bear  a  considerable  amount  of  injury  without  permanent 
mischief.  In  any  case  the  treatment  should  consist  in  cutting 
away  the  horn  round  the  opening,  so  as  to  allow  of  a  free  escape 
of  matter  if  it  forms.  At  the  same  time  inflammation  should  be 
kept  under  by  cold  "swabs"  to  the  coronet,  or  by  putting  the  whole 
foot  into  a  bran  poultice. 

OVER-REACHES,  when  slight,  may  be  treated  by  the  application 
of  friar's  balsam,  or  tincture  of  arnica  in  full  strength,  which  will 
have  a  tendency  to  dry  them  up  and  prevent  suppuration.  If, 
however,  the  heel  is  very  much  bruised,  a  poultice  must  be  applied, 
but  even  then  a  little  tincture  of  arnica  should  be  sprinkled  on  it. 
When  the  bruise  is  so  severe  that  a  slough  or  core  comes  away, 
the  wound  may  be  dressed  with  a  piece  of  lint,  dipped  in  a  solution 
of  nitrate  of  silver,  eight  grains  to  the  ounce  of  distilled  water, 
and  over  this  a  bran  poultice.  In  most  cases,  however,  it  is  better 
to  foment  the  part  well  and  then  apply  the  tincture  of  arnica  neat. 

A  BRUISE  on  a  thin  sole  will  sometimes  cause  matter  to  form, 
in  which  case  the  horn  must  be  cut  away,  and^the  case  treated  as 


FEVERS.  417 

for  quittor.    Before  matter  forms,  the  horn  should  be  reduced,  and 
the  foot  should  be  placed  in  a  cold  bran  poultice. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

CONSTITUTIONAL    DISEASES. 

Fevers — Anasarca —  Glanders — Farcy. 

FEVERS. 

THE  HORSE  is  very  rarely  subject  to  fever  as  a  disease  of  itself, 
independently  of  inflammation,  under  which  head  I  have  already 
described  catarrhal  fever,  both  of  the  simple  kind  and  when  epi- 
demic, and  known  as  influenza.  Indeed,  all  the  important  inflam- 
mations of  the  body  are  attended  with  fever;  but  in  them  the 
local  affections  are  evidently  more  serious  than  the  general  disturb- 
ance of  the  system,  which  we  call  by  the  name  of  fever.  By  many 
veterinarians  it  is  doubted  whether  fever  ever  shows  itself  in  the 
horse  without  inflammation ;  but  occasionally  it  may  be  observed 
under  the  form  of  simple  fever,  presenting  all  the  symptoms 
which  accompany  ordinary  inflammation,  but  without  any  such 
complication,  and  more  rarely  of  the  typhoid  form,  which  now 
sometimes  attends  influenza  and  other  epidemics. 

SIMPLE  FEVER  shows  itself  by  dulness  and  reluctance  to  move, 
a  staring  coat,  and  cold  legs  and  feet,  with  increased  warmth  of 
the  body.  The  pulse  is  quick,  soft,  and  variable — breathing  a  little 
accelerated,  but  not  much — appetite  entirely  lost — bowels  confined, 
and  urine  scanty.  These  symptoms  continue  for  two  or  three 
days,  and  then  either  go  on  into  the  typhoid  form,  or  they  are 
complicated  by  inflammation  in  some  organ  of  the  body.  The 
treatment  merely  consists  in  giving  a  mild  dose  of  physic,  followed 
by  a  febrifuge  drink,  such  as  the  following : — 

Take  of  Spirit  of  Nitrous  Ether 1  oz. 

Nitre 3  to  5  drachms. 

Tincture  of  Ginger 2  drachms. 

Camphor  Mixture 6  oz. 

Mix,  and  give  twice  a  day.* 

TYPHOID  FEVER  sometimes  appears  as  an  epidemic,  occurring 
either  as  a  sequel  to  influenza,  or  in  its  pure  form,  without  any 

*  Nothing  in  the  veterinary  Materia  Medica  Avill  cure  fever  so  certainly 
and  successfully  as  aconite  ;  and  for  this  purpose  give  10  to  15  drops  of  thc- 
tincture  of  the  root  two  to  three  times  in  the  twenty-four  hours,  and  allow 
plenty  of  pure  air  and  cold  water. — EDITOR. 

2D 


418  THE  HORSE. 

complication.  The  latter  condition  is,  however,  extremely  rare. 
In  its  early  stage,  it  can  scarcely  be  recognised  or  distinguished 
from  simple  fever;  but  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  days  the 
strength  is  so  much  reduced,  the  breath  is  so  fetid,  and  the  mouth 
is  loaded  with  such  a  black  discharge  from  the  tongue  and  gums, 
that  the  nature  of  the  disease  is  clearly  manifested.  The  pulse  is 
very  low,  the  languor  increases,  and  there  is  often  more  or  less 
delirium.  The  course  of  the  disease  is  extremely  rapid,  and  in 
five  or  six  days  a  strong  horse  will  sink  beneath  its  powers,  refusing 
food,  and  dying  without  any  attempt  to  rally.  The  treatment 
should  be  of  the  most  generous  kind,  as  soon  as  the  bowels  have 
been  gently  moved,  which  should  be  effected,  if  possible,  by  injec- 
tion. Then  give  a  ball  two  or  three  times  a  day,  composed  thus : — 

Take  of  Carbonate  of  Ammonia      .     .     .     .     £  to  1  drachm. 

Powdered  Ginger 1  drachm. 

Powdered  Yellow  Bark      ....     3  drachms. 

Syrup  enough  to  make  into  a  ball. 

This  should  be  washed  down  with  a  quart  of  ale  caudle,  and  hay 
tea  should  be  allowed  as  the  drink  ad  libitum]  or,  if  there  is 
diarrho3a,  rice-water  may  be  used  in  the  same  way.  Few  ca,«es, 
however,  will  recover,  in  spite  of  every  exertion  and  careful  treat- 
ment on  the  part  of  the  attendant.* 

*  As  will  be  perceived  by  the  text,  typhoid  fever  is  of  rare  occurrence  in 
Great  Britain  ;  and  when  it  does  occur,  it  is  mostly  as  a  sequel  to  influenza 
and  other  debilitating  diseases.  Indeed,  this  may  with  truth  be  said  of  all 
countries  where  the  land  is  dry  by  nature,  or  made  so  by  drainage  and  culti- 
vation. 

Until  of  late  years,  no  mention  is  made  in  the  books  on  hippopathology, 
of  "  typhoms"  as  one  of  the  ailments  of  the  equine  species.  Typhoid  fever 
among  horses  in  different  parts  of  this  country  is  of  yearly  occurrence,  and 
is  known  by  several  and  distinct  names — depending  upon  the  chief  symptom 
observed.  Thus,  in  Kentucky,  and  the  South  West,  it  is  called  "  black 
tongue"  because  that  organ,  as  in  man  under  similar  circumstances,  varies 
in  color  from  a  deep  purple  to  black.  It  is  known  in  New  York  as  cerebro- 
spinal-meningitis,  because  it  is  thought  by  M.  Liautard,  to  present  symptoms 
similar  to  those  when  man  is  the  subject.  »In  Delaware  it  is  named  "  choking 
distemper."  In  the  West  it  is  "  putrid  fever ,"  so  called  from  the  fetid  smell 
emanating  from  the  diseased  animal. 

Isaiah  Michener,  Esq.,  of  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  a  lecture 
delivered  before  the  class  of  the  Philadelphia  Veterinary  College,  calls  it 
"  paralysis  of  the  par-vagum,"  on  account  of  the  loss  of  power  to  swallow. 
The  multiplicity  of  names  given  to  the  disease  can  do  no  possible  harm, 
whilst,  at  the  same  time,  they  serve  to  point  out  to  us  the  chief  symptoms,  so 
that  they  may  be  grouped  together  and  as  a  whole,  under  the  head  of  typhosus 
or  typhoid  fever. 

The  symptoms  differ  with  the  intensity  of  the  attack,  but  at  first  they  are 
very  obscure  and  likely  to  be  overlooked,  a  general  debility  being  the  most 
noticeable  ;  and  in  a  day  or  two  a  difficulty  in  swallowing  will  be  ob- 


ANASARCA.  419 

ANASARCA. 

ANASARCA,  OR  MOOR-ILL,  occurs  chiefly  among  horses  turned 
out  in  marshes  or  low  commons,  and  may  readily  be  known  by  the 
general  swelling  of  the  body,  increasing  by  gravitation  in  the  legs 
during  the  standing  posture,  but  showing  itself  chiefly  in  the  lower 
side  of  the  body  in  the  early  morning,  when  the  horse  has  been 
lying  down  all  night.  The  disease  is  now  rare,  but  it  occasionally 
appears  under  the  circumstances  above  described.  The  treatment 
must  be  by  acting  on  the  kidneys,  the  following  being  a  useful 
recipe  for  the  purpose  : — 

Take  of  Nitre 4  drachms. 

Powdered  Resin 3  drachms. 

Ginger 1  drachm. 

Spirit  of  Nitrous  Ether l£  oz. 

Warm  Water  .     .          2  pints. 

Mix  and  give  as  a  drench  every  night. 

served.     Soon  the  horse  staggers  and  is  unable  to  walk,  and  in  the  majority 
of  cases,  lies  or  falls  down  unable  to  rise  again. 

There  are  other  symptoms  presented  in  this  affection  which  might  be 
described,  but  are  unnecessary,  as  they  are  common  alike  to  other  debilita- 
ting diseases,  such  as  the  quickened  and  wiry  pulse,  heaviness  of  the  head, 
fetid  breath,  shortened  breathing,  and  wasting  of  the  muscles  of  the  body. 
The  animal  dies  in  from  three  to  ten  days,  though  sometimes  lasting  as  long 
as  two  weeks,  a  loathsome  sight,  with  nothing  but  skin  and  ligament  covering 
the  bones. 

No  disease  of  the  horse  can,  after  the  third  day,  or  when  the  animal  is 
unable  to  stand,  be  mistaken  for  typhoid  fever,  if  it  be  not  paralysis,  which 
occurs  only  in  single  and  separate  cases,  whereas,  in  typhoid  fever  it  is 
almost  always  epizootic  (epidemic) ,  attacking  every  horse  on  the  place  and 
even  neighborhood. 

The  causes  of  typhoid  fever  in  the  horse  do  not  differ  from  those  that  give 
rise  to  typhus  in  man,  namely,  miasma  arising  from  level  land,  decaying 
vegetable  matter,  and  stagnant  water. 

On  many  splendid  country  seats  overlooking  our  noble  rivers  and  bays 
along  the  eastern  coast,  the  stables  are  often,  for  the  sake  of  convenience, 
located  near  the  river  banks,  with  sometimes  pools  of  stagnant  water  in  the 
immediate  vicinity.  This  is  a  fruitful  source  of  this  disease,  especially  during 
an  unusually  rainy  season.  In  treating  it,  it  is  especially  important  that  the 
horse  be  removed'  from  the  neighborhood  of  the  miasma  to  a  dry  location  : 
thus  the  cause  will  cease,  and  a  cure  is  more  likely  to  be  effected. 

Give  the  following  in  a  drench,  morning,  noon,  and  night : 

Cold  Water 1  pint. 

Powdered  Carbonate  of  Ammonia A  oz. 

Capsicum          1  drachm. 

Powdered  Pimento  Berries ^  oz. 

Tincture  Nux  Vomica    .     .     .     , 20  drops. 

If  the  horse  is  unable  to  stand,  give  him  a  good  bed  and  turn  him  from 
one  side  to  the  other  twice  daily,  to  prevent  sores  on  the  body  ;  and  if 
unable  to  swallow,  di-ench  him  with  cold  water   and  meal   several   times 
daily — adding  thirty  drops  of  commercial  sulphuric  acid  to  the  drench.— 
EDITOR. 


420  THE  HORSE. 

GLANDEBS. 
THIS    FRIGHTFUL    CONSTITUTIONAL    DISEASE  appears  to  Consist 

in  the  generation  of  some  poisonous  matter  in  the  blood,  which 
nature  attempts  to  throw  off  by  establishing  a  discharge  in  the 
nostrils.  It  is  perfectly  incurable,  and  therefore  it  is  only  neces- 
sary to  study  its  symptoms,  with  a  view  to  distinguish  it  from 
ozena,  with  which  alone  it  is  liable  to  be  confounded.  Its  chronic 
character  and  insidious  onset  will  serve  to  distinguish  it  from 
catarrh  and  strangles.* 

AT  ITS  COMMENCEMENT,  it  seems  to  be  confined  to  the  internal 
lining  of  the  nostrils,  which  is  not  reddened,  as  in  chronic  catarrh 
(ozena),  but  presents  a  leaden  or  purple  colour,  sometimes  of  a  deep 
shade,  but  at  first  generally  very  light  and  pale.  This  is  accom- 
panied by  a  thin  acrid  discharge,  transparent,  and  without  odor. 
G-enerally,  one  nostril  only  is  affected,  which  in  this  country  is 
more  frequently  the  left,  and  in  France  the  right;  but  why  this 
should  be  so  has  never  yet  been  even  conjectured  with  any  appear- 
ance of  probability.  This  state  of  things  usually  only  lasts  for  a 
few  weeks,  but  it  may  go  on  for  an  indefinite  time,  and  is  recog- 
nised as  the  first  stage ;  during  which  the  health  does  not  suffer, 
and  the  horse  can,  and  often  does,  go  on  with  his  ordinary  work. 
It  may  be  distinguished  from  ozena  by  the  purple  color  of  the  lin- 
ing membrane,  and  by  the  transparency  and  freedom  from  smell 
of  the  discharge. 

IN  THE  SECOND  STAGE,  the  discharge  increases  in  quantity,  and 
though  still  watery  and  transparent,  it  is  slightly  sticky,  indicating 
the  presence  of  mucus.  The  lymphatic  glands' below  the  jaw  en- 

*  To  produce  putrid  disease  amongst  horses  is  an  easy  matter,  for,  by 
neglect  of  the  ordinary  laws  of  health,  it  will  soon  show  itself  in  Glanders 
or  Farcy.  The  blood  of  horses  in  badly-ventilated  stables  soon  acquires  toxi- 
cal  properties,  from  effete  matter  or  miasma  exhaled  from  and  inhaled  by 
the  lungs,  or  even  in  some  cases  by  direct  inoculation.  This  poison,  when 
introduced,  acts  as  a  ferment,  so  that  the  development  of  a  peculiar  train 
of  symptoms  quickly  follows  by  the  operation  of  the  principle  of  catalysis 
(resolving  matter  into  new  compounds).  This  is  the  character  of  glanders, 
a  malignant  disease,  infectious  and  contagious.  This  specific  blood-poison 
is  produced  by  placing  horses  and  mules  in  conditions  that  depress  their 
vital  powers,  as  badly-ventilated  stables,  poor  food,  overwork,  exhaustion 
from  debilitating  disease,  &c. 

Many  cases  of  glanders,  since  the  discovery  of  an  anti-ferment,  have  been 
cured,  and  few  cases  of  farcy  die  from  it.  Treatment. — Half-ounce  doses 
of  the  sulphite  of  soda  three  times  daily,  five  grains  powdered  Spanish  fly 
once  in  the  day,  and  allow  good,  generous  diet.  The  soda  checks  the  fer- 
mentation, and  the  Spanish  fly  acts  as  a  tonic,  and  at  the  same  time  removes 
effete  matter  from  the  system.  When  the  lungs  in  glanders  are  diseased, 
which  is  known  when  the  horse  has  a  cough,  the  case  then  is  more  like  con- 
sumption, and  cannot  be  cured.  It  is  then  called  equinia  ylandulosa,  or 
glanders  with  tubercles  of  the  lungs. — EDITOR. 


GLANDERS— FARCY.  421 

large,  and  become  adherent  to  the  bone,  feeling  hard  to  the  touch, 
and  almost  like  exostosis.  Here  the  permanent  character  of  the 
discharge  and  the  adherence  of  the  glands  to  the  bone  are  the 
diagnostic  signs  from  ozena. 

IN  THE  THIRD  STAGE,  the  discharge  increases  rapidly,  and  be- 
comes yellow  and  opaque — in  fact,  it  is  pure  pus.  If  the  nose  is 
carefully  examined,  its  lining  membrane  will  be  seen  to  present 
one  or  more  sores,  with  depressed  centres  and  ragged  edges,  and 
surrounded  by  small  varicose  vessels  leading  to  thein  from  all 
directions.  In  proportion  to  the  extent  of  the  local  mischief,  con- 
stitutional disturbance  is  displayed.  The  appetite  fails — the  horse 
lose?  flesh  and  spirits — the  coat  is  turned  the  wrong  way — the 
skin  is  hidebound,  and  the  legs  fill  slightly  during  the  day,  but  go 
down  at  night — the  nose  is,  at  last,  frightfully  ulcerated,  the  sores' 
spreading  to  the  larynx — ulcers  break  out  on  the  body — and  the 
horse  finally  dies,  worn  to  a  skeleton. 

When  the  diagnosis  of  the  disease  is  confirmed,  as  it  is  undoubt- 
edly highly  contagious,  both  to  other  horses  and  to  man  himself, 
the  patient  ought  to  be  destroyed.  By  the  use  of  green  food,  his 
life  may  be  prolonged  for  a  time,  and  a  certain  amount  of  work 
may  be  got  out  of  him ;  but  the  risk  of  contagion  is  too  great  to 
be  incurred,  and  no  man  who  regards  his  own  welfare,  and  that 
of  his  neighbors,  should  keep  a  glandered  horse. 

FAKCY. 

THIS  DISEASE  appears  to  depend  upon  the  development  of  the 
same  poison  as  in  glanders ;  but  the  attempt  at  elimination  is  made 
in  the  skin,  instead  of  the  mucous  membrane  lining  the  nose.  A 
horse  inoculated  with  glanders  may  exhibit  farcy,  and  vice  versa; 
so  that  the  essence  of  the  disease  is  the  same,  but  its  seat  is  a 
different  tissue. 

FARCY  usually  shows  itself  first  by  one  or  two  small  hard  knots 
in  the  skin,  called  "  farcy  buds."  These  soon  soften,  and  contain 
a  small  quantity  of  pus ;  but  as  this  is  rapidly  absorbed,  the  lym- 
phatics which  convey  it  into  the  circulation  inflame;  and  at  a 
short  distance  another  bud  is  formed,  and  then  another,  and 
another.  These  buds  are  usually  met  with  in  the  thin  skin  cover- 
ing the  inside  of  the  thighs  and  arms,  or  the  neck  and  lips.  They 
vary  from  the  size  of  a  shilling  to  that  of  a  half-crown  \  and  as 
they  increase  in  numbers,  the  skin  becomes  oedematous.  In  pro- 
cess of  time,  the  general  system  suffers,  as  in  glanders,  and  the 
horse  dies,  a  miserable,  worn-out  object.  No  treatment  can  be 
relied  on  to  cure  the  disease ;  and  as  it  is  equally  contagious  with 
glanders,  every  farcied  horse  ought  at  once  to  be  destroyed.  The 
hard  nature  of  the  buds,  and  the  thickened  lymphatics  extending 
like  cords  between,  clearly  make  known  the  nature  of  the  disease. 
36 


422  THE  HORSE. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 
SHOEING.* 

THE  art  of  shoeing  appears  to  have  been  unknown  to  the  ancients, 
although  the  need  of  it  was  greatly  felt,  especially  in  the  rough 
campaigning  and  long  marches  constantly  recurring  in  those  warlike 
times.  In  several  campaigns  the  cavalry  was  rendered  worthless 
and  was  disbanded  on  account  of  the  bad  condition  of  their  horses' 
feet,  and  the  animals  themselves  were  relieved  from  duty  until 
their  hoofs  were  restored.  The  value  of  a  horse  depended  more 
upon  the  soundness  and  strength  of  his  hoof  than  upon  any  other 
quali6cation,  and  various  methods  of  rendering  it  harder  and  more 
serviceable  were  proposed  by  Xenophon  and  other  early  writers. 
But  while  acknowledging  the  importance  of  a  sound,  vigorous  hoof, 
and  striving  to  harden  and  preserve  it,  it  does  not  seem  to  have 
occurred  to  them  to  protect  it  by  fastening  to  it  by  nails,  a  band 
or  shoe  of  iron,  although  Beckman  states  that  horse  shoes  and 
nails  have  been  found  in  the  graves  of  some  German  and  Vandal 
tribes  of  unknown  antiquity  in  the  northern  part  of  Germany. 
To  William  the  Conqueror  tradition  ascribes  the  introduction  of  the 
practice  of  shoeing  into  England,  whence  it  has  remained  until  the 
present  time. 

When  the  delicacy  of  organization  of  the  foot  of  the  horse  is 
considered,  its  extreme  sensitiveness  and  wonderful  adaptability  for 
the  purpose  of  locomotion,  the  enormous  wear  and  tear  incident 
upon  constant  use  in  the  service  of  man,  its  liability  to  abuse  and 
injury,  and  the  consequent  suffering  of  the  dumb  animal  and  pecuni- 
ary loss  to  the  owner,  it  is  surprising  that  there  has  been  so  little  real 
improvement  in  the  art.  While  the  past  half  century  has  been 
so  fruitful  of  results  in  almost  every  other  branch  of  industry,  it 
has  witnessed  few  or  none  in  this.  This  is  due  in  great  measure 
to  the  indifference  of  the  artisan  to  whom  the  care  of  the  horse's 
foot  is  committted,  who,  ignorant  of  the  nature  and  structure 
of  the  living  member  before  him,  so  recklessly  handles  and 
mutilates  it,  in  much  the  same  manner  as  his  ancestors  years 
before  him. 

The  feet  of  most  of  the  horses  of  the  present  day,  and  especially 
those  used  for  drafty  purposes  and  heavy  work  in  our  large  cities, 
are  in  bad  condition,  and  more  subjects  are  brought  to  the  knack- 

*  This  article  was  prepared  at  our  request,  by  a  gentleman  who  has  given 
the  subject  much  time,  and  patient  investigation. — EDITOR. 


SHOEING.  423 

er's  yard  from  this  cause  than  all  others  combined.  A  healthy, 
vigorous  foot  is  the  exception  even  among  horses  used  for  lighter 
work.  Brittle,  shelly  hoofs,  ridged  and  dished,  indicating  internal 
derangement,  withered  frogs  with  the  centre  arch  or  stay  entirely 
absorbed,  high  heels  bound  up  by  hard,  unyielding  crust,  all  these 
deformities  and  many  others  are  chargeable  in  some  degree  to  bad 
shoeing.  Sometimes  injuries  are  attributed  to  the  blacksmith  that 
are  due  to  accident  or  brutality  of  the  driver,  but  in  as  far  as  our 
system  of  shoeing  interferes  with  the  natural  functions  of  the  foot, 
it  will  induce  disease. 

The  question  then  presents  itself,  Why  not  teach  the  mechanic 
the  design  of  the  structure,  to  the  repair  of  which  his  lifetime  is 
devoted  ?  You  may  command  him  to  treat  your  horse  as  you  direct, 
but  you  must  convince  his  judgment,  if  you  expect  obedience  at  all 
times  -j  as  well  dictate  to  a  physician  what  medicines  he  shall  give 
your  child  at  some  stages  of  disease,  and  depend  on  him  at  others  j 
he  will  treat  the  case  in  his  own  way,  or  not  at  all;  the  head,  heart 
and  hand  must  accord  to  make  perfect  work. 

Our  public  schools  have  been  a  great  power  in  the  advancement 
of  the  mechanical  arts ;  much  of  the  labor-saving  machinery  now 
building  up  great  wealth  in  the  country,  is  the  fruit  of  the  philo- 
sophical truths  there  disseminated,  and  the  improved  social  condi- 
tion of  the  laboring  classes  is  due  to  their  influence.  We  have 
schools  of  science,  and  colleges  for  the  instruction  of  students  in 
the  treatment  and  cure  of  horses,  yet  we  expect  those  whose  daily 
business  is  to  perform  important  surgical  operations  upon  a  deli- 
cately organized  member,  to  be  reasonably  successful,  without 
having  learned  the  alphabet  of  their  profession.  There  are  among 
them,  individuals,  intelligent  and  ingenious,  who  would  be  glad 
of  an  opportunity  of  testing  the  validity  of  their  practice  by  an 
appeal  to  the  condition  of  the  hidden  springs,  levers,  pulleys, 
cushions,  and  powers  comprising  the  mechanism  of  the  feet  and  legs 
explained  by  those  who  have  made  such  their  lifelong  study.  Many 
of  these  have,  by  long  experience,  discovered  for  themselves  a  fair 
system  of  shoeing,  and  are  successful  in  the  treatment  and  preven- 
tion of  injury,  but,  ignorant  of  physiology,  are  unable  to  transmit 
their  knowledge  to  others  with  sufficient  reason  to  establish  its 
truth. 

To  such  fully  educated  to  their  profession,  we  must  look  for  im- 
provement in  the  art,  and  we  hope  that  the  day  is  not  far  distant 
when  America  may  be  able  to  boast  of  her  veterinary  colleges  and 
schools  for  farriers,  as  of  her  other  institutions  of  learning. 

A  small  proportion  of  the  pecuniary  loss  annually  sustained  in 
our  large  cities  alone,  would  support  such  an  institution,  the  good 
results  of  which  would  be  incalculable.  But  while  all  thinking 
men  admit  the  benefits  which  must  result  from  its  establishment, 


424  THE  HORSE. 

it  is  too  customary  to  regard  the  idea  as  visionary  and  impracticable, 
and  maintain  that  the  craft  would  not  avail  themselves  of  its  advan- 
tages. 

At  first,  doubtless,  only  the  most  intelligent  would  do  so,  but 
these,  applying  the  theoretical  knowledge  received  there  to  the 
commonest  details  and  every-day  experience  of  the  smithy,  would 
convince  the  most  unreasoning  that  labor,  when  directed  by  skill 
and  judgment,  is  more  saving  of  money,  strength,  and  material, 
than  when  unenlightened  and  unreasoning;  and  soon  public 
opinion  would  force  their  more  ignorant  brethren  to  follow  their 
example.  A  great  painter  was  once  asked  how  he  mixed  his  colors. 
"  With  brains,  sir,"  was  the  apt  reply.  When  this  is  the  rule 
and  not  the  exception,  we  may  indeed  look  for  decided  improve- 
ment in  the  art,  the  dumb  animal  be  relieved  of  much  suffering, 
and  the  community  from  unnecessary  loss. 

Veterinarians  may  propose  theories,  but  lack  the  practical  expe- 
rience and  opportunity  of  observation  which  the  workmen  alone 
can  have,  while  the  number  of  the  latter  who  have  combined  scien- 
tific education  with  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  details  of  their 
profession,  has  been  too  small  to  stamp  any  decided  character 
upon  it. 

With  but  very  few  exceptions  the  entire  literature  of  shoeing  is 
European,  and  to  these  writers  the  American  public  is  indebted 
for  all  knowledge  outside  of  that  which  an  inquiring  mind  will 
gather  from  individual  observation. 

If  horse  owners  would  resort  to  the  books  for  physiological  facts, 
study  their  own  horses,  and  use  their  own  judgment,  they  would  in 
most  cases  discover  the  best  style  of  shoeing  for  their  particular 
use. 

Countries  and  sections  differ  greatly  in  the  fashion  of  horse-shoes, 
and  the  manner  of  fitting  them  to  the  foot,  but  the  general  princi- 
ples are  the  same. 

We  do  not  pretend  to  advocate  any  particular  form  of  shoe,  nail, 
or  system  of  shoeing  as  an  ultimatum  of  success,  but  wish  to  draw 
the  attention  of  horse  owners  to  the  importance  of  the  subject,  that 
they  may  judge  for  themselves,  the  practice  best  suited  to  their 
own  animals,  and  may  arrive  at  a  more  accurate  conception  and  a 
better  appreciation  of  the  hazard  of  a  sole  dependence  on  the  gene- 
ral ignorance  of  blacksmiths. 

A  careful  study  of  the  construction  of  the  foot,  as  explained  in 
this  work,  will  show  the  necessity  of  great  caution  and  intelligence 
in  its  treatment;  more  than  is  usually  displayed  by  our  mechanics. 
This  will  be  better  understood  by  a  reference  to  the  member  itself 
by  dissection,  which  is  practicable  to  most  farmers,  as  they  may 
frequently  obtain  specimens  in  their  vicinity,  arid  are  possessed  of 
the  facilities  for  examination. 


SHOEING.  425 

Sever  the  foot  at  the  upper  joint  of  the  pastern  bone,  trace  the 
veins,  arteries  and  tendons,  as  suggested  by  the  description  ;  note 
the  principal  resistant  parts  affected  by  locomotion,  the  position  of 
the  coronary  bone  and  its  inclination  within  the  hoof  (not  as  fre- 
quently engraved  entirely  without  or  above  it,  and  vertical  when 
at  rest),  the  navicular  bone  and  joint,  the  tendons  and  sheath,  with 
the  action  of  each,  the  elastic  property  of  the  fatty  heels,  the 
tough,  springy  frog,  its  shape  and  position,  the  structure  of  the 
coffin  bone,  sole,  crust  and  bars,  and  their  mutual  relations.  Let 
the  examination  be  careful,  and  guided  by  reflection,  with  due 
regard  to  each  particular  hoof,  fore  and  hind,  near  and  off,  and 
condition  of  health.  Form  no  hasty  conclusions  from  partial  in- 
vestigations, and  study  for  practical  benefit,  not  for  a  show  of  wis- 
dom. A  wooden  vice,  butcher's  saw,  chisel,  knives  and  nippers, 
are  about  all  the  instruments  necessary,  and  after  becoming  ac- 
quainted with  the  natural  tone  of  the  crust,  the  operation  may  be 
facilitated  by  the  use  of  warm  water  to  soften  the  horn. 

If  this  has  excited  an  interest  in  the  subject,  let  the  student  ex- 
periment with  the  shoeing  of  his  own  horses,  young  and  old ;  having 
the  entire  control  and  supervision  of  their  working,  driving,  stabling, 
pasturing  and  shoeing,  he  must  learn  something,  if  but  his  own 
ignorance.  If  resident  of  a  country  of  light  sandy  soil,  and  the 
nature  of  the  work  will  allow,  the  hind  feet,  if  not  all,  might  be 
left  unshod  to  illustrate  natural  development;  we  have  seen  such 
with  hard  glossy  hoofs,  that  could  travel  over  turnpike  roads  with 
a  light  load,  without  breaking  the  crust  or  flinching  on  the  frog. 

The  detail  of  horse-shoeing  has  been  subjected  to  such  adverse 
teachings  by  different  authors  (many  of  whom  have  but  repeated 
palpable  errors  of  their  predecessors  without  attempt  at  originality), 
that  it  would  be  impossible  to  produce  positive  rules  that  will  not 
meet  with  opposition,  but  the  indications  of  disease,  may  be  related 
without  assigning  their  particular  cause,  of  which  there  is  much 
difference  of  opinion  and  uncertainty. 

The  conditions  of  a  good,  sound  foot  as  apparent,  are  a  smooth, 
glossy,  resilient  crust,  almost  circular  were  it  continued  around  at 
the  bars,  but  fuller  on  the  outside  quarter,  which  difference  is  sel- 
dom seen  on  a  foot  that  has  been  shod  a  dozen  times ;  a  concave 
sole  not  too  dry  and  hard ;  a  full  frog  elastic  throughout,  with  its 
centre  or  frog  stay  complete ;  heels  sufficiently  low  and  free  from 
crust  to  bear  their  share  of  the  springiness  of  action,  and  full  and 
well  developed  to  allow  freedom  to  the  bones  and  tendons  in  their 
movements.  In  horses  the  general  rule  is  that  dark  hoofs  are 
harder  than  light  ones.  The  internal  organization  is  in  conformity 
with  the  external,  the  healthy  state  has  been  already  described 
under  the  heads  of  bones,  muscles,  &c.  In  disease,  we  find  within 
a  concave,  furrowed  crust,  the  elastic  process  or  bed  of  the  same 
36* 


426 


THE  HORSE. 


FlG.  20. — A  SOUND  FORE  FOOT  PREPARED  FOR  THE  SHOE. 

A.  The  heel  of  the  crust.  E  E.  The  angles  between  the  heels  and  bars 

B.  The  toe.  where  corns  appear. 
C  C.  The  quarters  of  the  crust.  F  F.  The  concave  surface. 
DD.  The  bars  as  they  should  be  left  with  GG    The  bulbous  heels. 

frog  between  them.  H.  Cleft. 

form,  and  a  dished  coffin  bone ;  under  a  convex  sole  a  coffin  bone 
turned  up  in  front  by  absorption  and  flattened  like  the  hoof,  spongy 
and  deficient  in  bony  matter,  the  sensible  sole  diminished  and  the 
horny  sole  increased  in  substance ;  in  long-standing  cases  of  con- 
tracted heels,  the  interior  organizations  are  alike  reduced.  Which- 
ever may  be  the  primary  change,  internal  or  external,  or  whether 
either  be  a  result  of  bad  shoeing,  no  satisfactory  solution  has  yet 
been  given.  Veterinarians  wrangle  over  their  favorite  theories, 
charge  one  another  with  causing  the  diseases  they  profess  to  pre- 
vent, and  are  so  completely  antagonistic  in  their  doctrines,  that 
the  public  cannot  be  confident  of  truth,  in  implicit  reliance  upon 
the  assertions  of  any. 

In  comparing  the  horse's  foot  with  the  human,  we  must  be  care- 
ful not  to  fall  into  error ;  their  relations  to  the  body  are  the  same, 
but  to  understand  the  comparative  structures,  we  must  imagine 
ourselves  upon  all  fours,  resting  upon  the  finger  and  toe  nails,  our 


SHOEING.  427 

wrist  and  heel  corresponding  to  the  knee  and  hock-joints  of  the 
horse,  though  the  bones  are  of  different  relative  lengths  and  shape. 
The  crust  of  the  hoof  is  secreted  in  much  the  same  manner  as  our 
nails,  and  growing  downwards,  or  towards  the  extremities,  slides 
over  a  laminated  and  highly  sensitive  bed,  which,  when  injured, 
produces  intense  pain,  on  account  of  the  unyielding  nature  of  the 
crust,  and  the  swelling  consequent  to  inflammation.  We  may  then 
realize  the  suffering  produced  by  the  prick  of  a  horse-shoe  nail, 
under  a  horn  so  much  thicker  than  our  finger  or  toe  nails. 

As  qualifications  of  resistance,  and  ease  to  superincumbent 
structures,  we  have,  of  the  human  foot,  the  main  arch  of  the  soles 
(which  must  be  taken  together  to  establish  their  completeness), 
and  the  transverse  arch  of  the  ball  of  the  foot,  displayed  when  the 
toes  are  brought  to  the  ground.  Of  the  horse  there  is  the  arch 
of  the  sole,  and  those  formed  by  the  heels  and  frog.  The  sole  and 
coffin  bone  of  the  mule  are  more  concave  than  those  of  the  horse. 

As  propellers  and  levers,  we  find  the  same  action  from  heel  to 
toe,  as  the  body  moves  forward  in  progression.  The  horse  having 
two  sets  of  levers,  one  for  the  fore  part  of  the  body  and  one  for 
the  hind,  all  working  in  connection,  must  make  exactly  the  same 
length  of  step  with  each  foot  to  avoid  interference.  From  this 
fact,  we  account  for  a  frequent  cause  of  forging  and  stumbling. 
Both  horse  and  man  accustom  the  motion  of  the  body  to  the  length 
of  step ;  if  we  then  attempt  to  walk  in  a  pair  of  shoes  so  much 
shorter  than  usual,  as  to  cramp  the  toes  and  shorten  the  foot,  we 
will  be  unable  to  carry  the  body  as  far  with  each  motion  from  heel 
to  toe,  to  correspond  with  our  ordinary  forward  spring  of  the  body ; 
the  tendency,  therefore  (until  we  learn  better),  is  to  a  short,  quick, 
stumbling  gait.  Now,  take  a  horse  whose  hoofs  have  been  slowly 
growing  in  length  for  a  month,  every  motion  of  his  body  trained  to 
accord,  pull  off  his  shoes,  which  will  be  found  (owing  to  the  for- 
ward growth  of  the  hoof)  farther  from  the  heels  than  when  first 
applied,  pare  away  the  crust  down  to  the  sole,  cut  out  a  big  notch 
at  the  toe  for  a  clip,  set  the  new  shoe  back  within  the  front  of  the 
foot  (more  on  the  fore  feet,  as  they  are  supposed  to  grow  faster), 
then  rasp  off  the  outer  part  of  the  toe  back  to  the  shoes,  and  clench 
the  nails  as  tight  as  possible.  This  is  a  common  mode  of  shoeing; 
his  shoes  are  too  small  for  him ;  he  swings  into  a  trot  with  the 
usual  body  motion,  but  the  feet,  all  shortened,  fail  their  part, 
while  the  fore  feet,  diminished  more  than  the  hind,  are  not  thrown 
out  quite  as  far,  and  the  horse,  unaccustomed  to  the  change,  dwells 
too  long  on  them  to  escape  a  blow  from  behind.  Weariness  and 
laziness  will  also  cause  forging,  by  a  tardy  movement  in  front,  and 
stumbling,  by  a  failure  to  raise  the  toe  sufficiently  to  avoid  scrub- 
bing the  ground  when  thrown  forward. 

It  is  too  common,  especially  in  cities,  among  draught-horses,  to 


428 


THE  HORSE. 


use  up  the  lower  part  of  the  crust  too  fast  for  its  growth  If  the 
human  finger-nail  be  pierced  with  a  fine  needle  in  the  manner  of 
a  horse-shoe  nail  driven  through  the  crust  of  a  hoof,  it  will  be  ob- 
served that  the  hole  will  remain,  until  the  growth  of  the  nail  has 
carried  it  beyond  the  flesh ;  that  is,  the  fibres  of  horn  once  sepa- 
rated will  never  unite.  Horses  used  for  heavy  work  are  shod  with 
heavy  shoes,  thick  toe  and  quarter  clips,  high  calks  and  steel  toes, 
and  either  because  of  the  severe  strain  on  the  stones,  the  weight  of 
the  shoes  and  nails,  the  leverage  of  calks  and  toes,  waste  of  crust  to 
accommodate  clips,  or  of  all  combined,  they  require  shoeing  about 
once  in  three  weeks,  and  frequently  oftener.  At  each  shoeing,  a 
little  more  crust  and  sole  is  taken  off  of  the  ground  surface,  a  few 
more  holes  made  (or  nails  driven  into  old  ones,  enlarging  the  aper- 
ture by  working  about  and  bending  under  the  clenching  iron). 
The  surface  of  the  crust  is  again  rasped,  diminishing  the  thick- 
ness, new  furrows  made  to  accommodate  the  clenches,  and  the  horn 
burned  and  softened  by  a  hot  shoe  each  time.  The  blacksmith 
will  insist  that  all  these  operations  are  necessary,  but  the  fact  is, 
he  is  using  up  material  too  fast,  and  we  leave  it  to  horse  owners 
to  judge  by  experiment,  how  these  operations  may  be  modified. 
The  French  method  of  bringing  the  points  of  the  nails  out  low 
down  on  the  surface  of  the  hoof,  appears  rational,  as  it  destroys 
the  vitality  of  the  crust  to  a  less  degree  than  our  custom,  and 
leaves  a  greater  proportion  of  sound  foot  to  bear  the  shocks. 

Our  practice  has  been,  after  removing  the  old  shoes  (with  care 
not  to  enlarge  the  old  holes  by  dragging  crooked  nails  through 
them),  to  pare  off  the  crust  and  bars  well  down  to  the  outer  edge 
of  the  sole,  without  taking  a  shaving  from  the  sole,  frog,  or  inside 

of  the  bars.  If  the  crust  has 
not  been  broken  by  wear, 
this  leaves  the  foot  as  near 
its  natural  shape  as  possi- 
ble, and  a  shoe  must  be 
made  to  fit  it.  For  road- 
sters, a  narrow,  light  shoe 
is  fitted  to  the  crust  in 
length  and  width,  then 
made  perfectly  level,  with- 
out twist  or  pritchell  burs 
at  the  nail  holes,  and  while 
sufficiently  hot,  slightly 
touched  to  the  crust,  to  mark  any  inequalities  that  may  have  been 
left  after  paring.  Six  nails  are  used,  three  on  each  side,  dividing 
the  space  from  about  an  inch  from  the  centre  of  the  toe,  to  the 
centre  of  the  quarters.  The  nail  holes  are  set  well  back  from  the 
outside  edge,  and  made  straight  through  the  iron ;  the  nails  are 


SHOEING.  429 

small,  smoothed  off  with  the  hammer,  and  slightly  bevelled  on  one 
side  of  the  point;  the  position  of  the  holes  in  the  shoe  brings 
the  nails  out  low  down  on  the  surface  of  the  crust,' but  care  must 
be  taken  to  start  them  in  the  centre  of  the  holes,  that  the  foot 
may  not  be  cramped  or  forced  out  of  its  natural  shape.  The  pro- 
jecting nail  points  are  filed  close  to  the  hoof,  that  they  may  be 
broken  off  without  twisting  the  nail,  or  enlarging  the  hole  in  the 
crust;  the  nails  are  then  driven  up,  and  the  clenches  turned  over 
and  hammered  down. 

No  rasp  has  been  used,  no  crust  wasted  by  mutilation  for  clips, 
and  but  little  injury  by  nail  holes;  if  the  nails  be  of  good  iron, 
they  are  sufficient  in  number,  and  the  light  clenches  on  a  sound 
foot,  will  hold  the  shoe  perfectly  tight,  and  will  not  cause  abrasion 
of  the  legs  in  travelling. 

The  foot  presents  what  we  might  call  a  beautiful  fit,  the  tender 
part  of  the  frog  is  protected  by  the  thickness  of  the  shoe,  while  as 
it  is  renewed  from  within,  the  outside  will  be  worn  off  by  friction, 
and  nature  will  keep  it  exactly  low  enough  to  obtain  its  necessary 
exercise ;  moreover,  by  driving  the  nails  straight  through  the  mid- 
dle of  the  hole  in  the  shoe,  the  foot  will  be  free  from  that  dis- 
agreeable, cramped  feeling,  we  have  imagined  a  horse  to  experience, 
when-  the  nails  are  started  at  either  side  of  the  hole  in  the  iron, 
forcing  the  more  yielding  fibres  of  horn  to  its  centre. 

There  have  been  many  forms  of  shoes  recommended  by  different 
authors,  but  few  of  which  are  used  in  this  country.  The  French 
shoe  has  a  convex  ground  surface,  and  the  foot  is  fashioned  to  it, 
by  leaving  the  quarters  full,  and  the  crust  sloped  off  towards  the 
toe  and  heels.  Why  the  bearing  should  be  taken  off  the  heels  we 
cannot  imagine,  and  forcing  the  quarters  to  bear  an  undue  amount 
of  concussion  would  apparently  induce  quarter  crack,  but  having 
had  no  experience  with  this  shoe  we  may  be  wrong  in  our 
conclusions. 

Another  fashion  imitates  an  old  shoe  worn  off  at  the  toe,  which 
is  certainly  an  advantage  to  roadsters,  as  it  would  Be  to  us,  if  we 
could  buy  new  shoes  to  fit  our  feet  exactly  like  the  old  ones.  Some 
writers  advocate  nailing  the  shoe  only  upon  the  outside  quarter,  or 
with  but  two  nails  on  the  inside,  toward  the  toe,  with  the  idea  of 
allowing  unimpeded  expansion  of  the  crust  when  the  foot  strikes 
the  ground.  Inasmuch  as  nails  injure  the  crust,  the  practice  of  using 
as  few  as  possible  is  wise,  but  we  have  been  unable  to  discover  any 
expansion  of  the  anterior  half  of  the  ground  surface  in  hoofs  that 
have  never  been  shod.  A  careful  examination  will  convince  any  one 
that  there  is  no  mechanical  necessity  for  such  spreading,  and  from 
the  nature  of  the  organization  of  the  foot,  it  is  simply  impossible;  all 
the  spring  needful  to  the  front  of  the  crust  is  gained  by  the  elasticity 
of  its  fibres.  The  line  of  bearing  of  the  lower  part  of  the  fore  leg, 


430  THE  HORSE. 

is  directed  behind  the  centre  of  the  foot,  and  the  yielding  point? 
of  the  framework  are  the  pastern,  coronary  and  navicular  joints  ; 
as  the  upper  part  of  the  coronary  bone  works  backward  and  down- 
ward, it,  with  the  action  of  the  tendon,  slightly  spreads  the  heels 
laterally,  and  the  whole  crust  partakes  of  the  movement,  diminish- 
ing in  effect  towards  the  toe ;  were  the  foot  completely  inelastic,  the 
motion  might  be  detected  at  the  quarters,  but  the  whole  of  a  healthy 
foot  is  of  a  yielding  nature ;  the  fatty  heels,  in  particular,  may  be 
compressed  like  cork,  while  the  frog  resembles  a  piece  of  india- 
rubber,  and  there  is  a  spring  in  every  fibre  of  the  crust.  These 
conditions  so  far  distribute  motion,  that  there  is  practically  none 
in  the  ground  surface  of  the  crust  forward  of  the  centre. 

From  the  fact  of  this  style  of  shoe  allowing  free  expansion,  its 
advocates  proclaim  it  a  preventive  of  contracted  heels  (which,  un- 
fortunately, is  so  prevalent  among  shod  horses) ;  but  if,  as  we  sup- 
pose, there  be  no  spreading  of  the  front  part  of  the  crust  by  pressure, 
a  shoe  nailed  only  at,  and  forward  of  the  quarters,  will  not  interfere 
with  any  natural  movement  of  the  heels. 

This  disease  (contracted  heels),  which  has  been  described  on 
page  409,  appears  to  be  an  absorption  or  waste  of  a  portion  of 
the  frog  and  fatty  heels,  accompanied  by  an  undue  secretion  of 
crust  at  the  posterior  part  of  the  foot,  encroaching  upon  the  pro- 
vince of  the  softer  tissue  of  the  heels. 

Many  reasons  have  been  assigned  for  this  disturbance  of  the 
natural  nutrition  of  the  different  parts,  all  or  none  of  which  may 
be  correct,  for  no  theory  has  yet  been  so  clearly  demonstrated  and 
proven,  as  to  leave  the  causes  and  nature  of  the  disease  beyond  a 
doubt,  but  we  have  never  known  any  tendency  to  contraction,  in 
horses  that  have  been  shod  in  such  manner  as  to  allow  the  frog  a 
fair  amount  of  exercise,  indicated  by  its  position. 

An  india-rubber  shoe  intended  to  be  used  as  a  cushion  between 
the  iron  and  the  foot,  has  been  designed,  patented  and  tried,  within 
the  last  two  or  three  years,  but  we  believe  has  failed  to  give  gene- 
ral satisfaction*  The  rubber  mashes  out  in  a  short  time  by  con- 
cussion, and  leaves  a  loose  shoe.  Good  sole  leather  is  much  more 
durable. 

Until  recently,  the  whole  process  of  making  the  shoe  was  per- 
formed by  hand,  but  now  in  the  United  States,  the  greater  bulk  is 
made  by  machinery,  and  at  one  immense  establishment. 

The  manufactory  of  Messrs.  Burden  &  Sons,  at  Troy,  New  York 
state,  with  its  six  forging  machines,  turns  out  six  shoes  per  second, 
and  in  four  years  made  twenty-five  thousand  tons ;  or  calculating 
one  and  a  half  pounds  to  the  shoe,  thirty-seven  million  shoes. 
These  shoes  are  of  the  very  best  iron,  warranted  to  bend  double 
cold,  and  to  wear  as  long  as  any  made  by  hand  j  the  iron  used  in 


SHOEING.  431 

their  manufacture  bearing  a  tensile  strain  of  seventy-eight  thousand 
pounds  to  the  square  inch. 

The  power  of  the  factory  is  gained  by  a  large  stream  of  water, 
with  a  head  of  seventy-two  feet,  acting  on  an  overshot  wheel  sixty 
feet  in  diameter,  with  buckets  twenty-two  feet  long  and  six  feet 
four  inches  deep,  the  whole  wheel  weighing  over  three  hundred 
tons.  Connected  with  the  establishment  is  a  horse-shoe  museum, 
comprising  many  hundred  specimens  of  shoes  of  all  ages  and  all 
countries,  collected  together  at  much  expense  with  a  view  to  im- 
provement upon  the  old  types.  There  are  now  three  different 
patterns  manufactured,  and  they  will  furnish  any  other  pattern 
desired,  if  ordered  in  sufficient  quantities.  The  cost  of  the  shoe  to 
the  blacksmith,  is  about  a  cent  and  a  half  per  pound  above  the 
price  of  the  iron. 

Independent  of  the  immense  curtailment  of  expense,  the  advan- 
tage of  machinery  directed  by  one  master  mind  over  the  old  sys- 
em,  or  rather  want  of  system  of  individual  effort  and  incongruous 
labor,  is  great;  and  it  should  be  the  aim  of  the  manufacturer, 
as  self-interest  will  dictate,  to  study  and  experiment  to  attain  the 
most  desirable  pattern,  in  width  of  web,  seating,  fullering,  position 
of  nail  holes,  and  quality  of  iron,  and  the  mechanics  will  necessarily 
adopt  his  improvements. 

In  short,  it  should  be  an  aim  in  shoeing  a  horse,  as  in  man,  to 
make  a  fit  as  neat  and  easy,  and  of  as  light  material  as  would  be 
adapted  to  its  use,  and  experience  has  proven,  that  heavy  shoes 
with  high  calks  and  toes,  are  not  necessary  for  successful  hauling 
over  our  city  cobble  stones,  or  hard  roadways. 

In  this  article  we  have  given  no  positive  directions  for  shoeing, 
judging  the  art  in  its  present  state  too  imperfect  to  satisfy  this 
progressive  'age,  but  have  sought  rather  to  stimulate  inquiry  and 
experiment,  that  may  lead  to  improvement  in  the  system. 


432  THE  HORSE. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 
OPEEATIONS. 

Administration  of  Chloroform — Methods  of  confining  the  Horse — 
Bleeding — Firing — Setons  and  Rowels — Blistering — Castration 
— Docking  and  Nicking — Unnerving — Reduction  of  Hernia — 
Administration  of  Physic — Clysters — Back-Raking. 

ADMINISTRATION  OF  CHLOROFORM. 

THE  USE  OF  CHLOROFORM  to  procure  insensibility  to  pain  is  a 
great  aid  to  the  operator  on  the  horse,  who  without  it  acts  under 
great  difficulties,  owing  to  the  nervous  twitch  which  the  poor  ani- 
mal gives  at  each  touch  of  the  knife.  Under  chloroform,  however, 
he  lies  as  if  dead ;  and  as  long  as  its  effects  continue,  the  most 
elaborate  dissection  may  be  conducted  with  comparative  ease. 
There  is  some  little  danger  of  overdoing  this  powerful  agent,  but 
the  risk  is  not*so  great  as  is  generally  supposed,  and  with  ordinary 
care  it  is  more  than  one  thousand  to  one  that  no  injurious  effects 
are  produced. 

THE  BEST  AND  MOST  SIMPLE  APPARATUS  for  the  purpose  of 
administering  chloroform  is  a  common  wire  muzzle,  to  the  upper 
edge  of  which  a  strip  of  leather  six  inches  deep  is  stitched,  and 
so  arranged  that  it  may  be  buckled  round  the  upper  part  of  the 
jaws.  This  insures  that  all  the  air  inspired  shall  pass  through  the 
wires,  and  by  covering  them  with  a  cap  of  very  loose  flannel,  in 
which  a  few  holes  are  cut  to  facilitate  respiration,  the  muzzle  may 
be  made  ready  for  use.  The  horse  is  first  cast,  after  which  the 
above  apparatus  is  put  on  and  buckled  round  the  jaw,  when  on 
sprinkling  the  chloroform  over  the  cap  of  flannel,  it  may  be  applied 
or  removed  in  an  instant,  and  the  amount  of  anaesthesia  regulated 
accordingly.  Without  some  guard  such  as  the  wire  affords,  the 
chloroform  runs  over  the  nostrils  and  lips,  and  blisters  them  to  a 
serious  extent;  but  when  it  is  used,  such  an  accident  can  only 
occur  from  over-saturating  the  flannel.  The  necessary  quantity  of 
this  powerful  agent  must  be  employed ;  but  when  once  it  is  found 
that  a  prick  of  a  pin  or  other  pointed  instrument  is  borne  without 
shrinking,  the  flannel  may  be  withdrawn,  and  the  operation  quickly 
commenced,  taking  care  to  have  an  assistant  ready  to  put  it  on 
again  if  the  horse  shows  signs  of  returning  sensibility  to  pain. 
Six  or  eight  ounces  of  chloroform  must  be  provided,  as  the  quantity 
required  is  rather  uncertain,  the  average  dose  being  about  three 
or  four  ounces. 

IF  CASTING  is  objected  to,  either  from  the  absence  of  hobbles, 
or  from  fear  of  injury  to  the  horse,  a  soft  bed  of  straw  should  be 


METHODS  OF  CONFINING  THE  HORSE.  433 

provided,  and  a  strong  halter  must  be  put  over  the  muzzle  with 
two  cords,  one  of  which  should  be  held  by  a  man  on  each  side. 
These  will  serve  to  guide  the  horse  in  falling;  but  it  is  extremely 
difficult  to  make  sure  of  his  going  down  where  he  is  wanted  to  lie; 
and  there  is  also  considerable  time  lost  in  securing  him  after  he  is 
down,  which  the  safety  of  the  operator  imperatively  requires. 
The  effect  of  the  chloroform  must  therefore  be  kept  up  for  a  much 
longer  time  than  if  it  is  given  after  the  horse  is  cast  and  secured. 

METHODS  OF  CONFINING  THE  HORSE. 

THERE  ARE  VARIOUS  PLANS  adopted  by  veterinary  surgeons  to 
bind  the  horse's  limbs,  so  that  he  cannot  injure  himself  or  them 
when  undergoing  an  operation.  Even  when  chloroform  is  em- 
ployed, some  coercion  of  this  kind  must  generally  be  adopted,  as 
directed  in  the  last  section ;  for  if  it  is  given  in  the  standing  posi- 
tion, the  horse  is  very  apt  to  injure  himself  in  falling,  which  is 
often  accompanied  by  powerful  convulsive  motions,  and  moreover 
he  cannot  with  certainty  be  placed  in  a  suitable  position.  The 
plan  adopted  by  Mr.  Rarey  is  seldom  suitable,  because  it  can  only 
be  employed  on  subjects  previously  taught  to  go  down  without 
resistance,  for  the  severe  struggle  which  the  untaught  horse  makes 
before  he  submits  is  calculated  to  produce  injurious  constitutional 
disturbance,  and,  moreover,  it  would  sadly  increase  any  of  the 
various  diseases  of  the  limbs  for  which  operations  are  so  often  per- 
formed. Sometimes,  however,  it  might  advantageously  be  intro- 
duced into  veterinary  surgery,  as  for  instance  in  castration,  when 
the  colt  will  not  suffer  his  hind  legs  to  be  touched,  but  even  then 
it  will  be  necessary  to  throw  him  two  or  three  times,  or  he  will  be 
in  such  a  state  of  arterial  excitement  that  inflammation  will  be 
likely  to  follow.  The  usual  methods  of  confinement  are :  1st. 
The  hobbles.  2d.  The  side  line.  3d.  The  trevis,  or  break.  4th. 
The  twitch  and  barnacles. 

HOBBLES  consist  of  four  broad  padded  leather  straps,  provided 
with  strong  buckles,  and  long  enough  to  encircle  the  pasterns.  To 
each  of  these  an  iron  ring  is  stitched,  and  to  one  of  them  a  strong 
soft  rope,  six  yards  in  length,  is  securely  attached.  Provided  with 
four,  or,  if  possible,  five  assistants,  the  operator  buckles  the  hob- 
ble with  the  rope  attached  to  the  near  fore  leg,  and  the  remaining 
three  to  the  other  legs.  Then  passing  the  rope  through  their  rings, 
and  through  the  first  also,  it  is  held  by  three  assistants,  the  nearest 
of  whom  stands  about  a  yard  from  the  horse,  so  as  to  pull  upwards 
as  well  as  away  from  him ;  a  fourth  assistant  holds  him  by  the 
head  to  keep  him  quiet,  and  to  be  ready  to  fall  on  it  as  soon  as  he 
is  down,  and  the  fifth  stands  at  his  quarters,  ready  to  push  him 
over  on  his  off  side.  This  place  is  sometimes  occupied  by  the 
operator  himself  when  he  is  short  of  hands.  Casting  should  never 
37  2 


434  THE  HORSE. 

be  attempted  on  any  hard  surface,  a  thick  bed  of  straw  being  ne- 
cessary to  prevent  injury  from  the  heavy  fall  which  takes  place. 
The  hind  legs  should  be  brought  as  far  forward  as  possible  before 
beginning  to  pull  the  rope,  and  when  the  men  do  this  they  should 
do  it  "with  a  will/'  but  without  jerking,  so  as  to  take  the  horse 
off  his  guard,  when  he  will  resist  much  less  stoutly  than  if  he  is 
allowed  more  time.  As  soon  as  the  legs  are  drawn  up  together, 
the  man  at  the  quarters  is  quite  safe  from  injury,  and  he  may  lean 
forcibly  against  that  part,  and  force  the  horse  over  to  the  off  side, 
upon  which  he  falls :  the  assistant  at  the  head  keeping  that  part 
down,  no  further  struggling  takes  place,  and  he  is  secured  by  pass- 
ing the  end  of  the  rope  under  the  hobble  rings  between  the  fore 
and  hind  legs,  and  securing  it  with  a  hitch.  Something  more, 
however,  is  necessary  to  be  done  before  any  of  the  usual  operations 
can  be  performed,  as  all  of  the  legs  are  at  liberty  to  a  certain 
extent  and  the  scrotum  cannot  be  reached  in  safety.  The  fol- 
lowing further  precautions  must  therefore  be  taken,  varying  ac- 
cording to  the  part  to  be  operated  on. 

FOR  CASTRATION  the  horse  should  be  cast  on  his  near  side,  with 
a  web  halter  in  the  usual  place  of  a  collar.  The  rope  of  the  halter 
is  then  passed  through  the  ring  of  the  hobble  on  the  off  hind  leg, 
and  using  it  as  a  pulley  the  foot  is  drawn  forcibly  forward  beyond 
the  arm  and  firmly  secured  to  the  webbing  round  the  neck,  and 
bringing  it  back  again  it  may  be  passed  round  the  thigh  above  the 
hock  (which  should  be  guarded  from  friction  by  a  soft  cloth  or 
leather),  and  again  secured  to  the  webbing.  By  these  precautions 
the  scrotum  is  completely  exposed,  and  the  hind  legs  cannot  be 
stirred  beyond  the  slight  spasmodic  twitch  which  extends  to  the 
whole  body. 

TO  PERFORM    ANY  OPERATION    ON    THE    FORE    LEG,  it   must   be 

taken  out  of  its  hobble,  and  drawn  forward  upon  the  straw  by  a 
webbing  attached  to  its  pastern,  where  it  must  be  held  by  an  assist- 
ant, the  horse  having  little  or  no  power  over  it  in  this  position. 

THE  HIND  LEO  is  SECURED  in  the  same  way  as  for  castration, 
unless  the  fetlock  is  to  be  fired,  when  webbing  must  be  applied  to 
the  thigh  above  the  hock  only.  With  most  horses,  however,  firing 
can  be  performed  without  casting,  by  buckling  up  the  fore  leg,  or 
by  having  it  held  by  a  competent  assistant. 

WHEN  THE  HORSE  is  to  be  released,  the  hobbles  are  quietly  un- 
buckled in  succession,  beginning  with  the  undermost  hind  leg. 

SEVERAL  IMPROVED  HOBBLES  have  been  invented,  but  they  are 
suited  rather  for  the  veterinary  surgeon  than  for  the  ordinary 
horsemaster,  who  will  only  require  them  for  castration  and  minor 
operations. 

THE  SIDE  LINE  is  sometimes  used  for  securing  one  hind  leg 
thus : — the  long  rope  and  single  hobble  only  are  required,  the  lat- 


CONFINING  THE  HORSE— BLEEDING.  435 

ter  being  buckled  to  the  hind  pastern,  which  is  to  be  secured.  The 
rope  is  then  passed  over  the  withers  and  brought  back  round  the 
bosom  and  shoulder  of  the  same  side  as  the  leg  to  which  it  is 
secured,  and  then  passed  inside  the  first  part  of  the  rope.  By 
pulling  at  the  end  of  this  cord  the  hind  leg  is  drawn  up  to  the 
shoulder,  and  secured  there  with  a  hitch,  but  the  plan  is  not  nearly 
so  safe  as  casting. 

THE  TREVIS  OR  BREAK  consists  of  four  strong  posts  driven  into 
the  ground,  at  the  corners  of  a  space  six  feet  long  by  three  feet 
wide.  They  are  strongly  braced  together  by  wooden  stays,  three 
feet  six  inches  from  the  ground  on  three  sides,  the  fourth  being 
left  open  for  the  horse  to  enter,  after  which  this  also  is  made  good 
by  a  padded  bar  passed  through  stout  iron  rings  fixed  at  three  feet 
from  the  ground  to  the  uprights.  By  means  of  this  framework,  to 
which  sundry  rings  are  bolted,  the  body  of  the  horse  is  first 
securely  confined  by  two  broad  bands  under  the  belly  and  two 
above  the  shoulders  and  croup.  Thus  he  can  neither  rear  nor  kick 
to  any  extent  sufficient  to  free  himself,  and  all  that  is  necessary  is 
to  lay  hold  of  any  limb  selected  for  operation,  and  confine  it  to  one 
of  the  uprights,  or  to  some  other  convenient  point.  This  is  the 
best  plan  to  be  adopted  for  firing  and  other  operations  on  the  legs, 
and  if  the  belly-bands  are  wide,  strong,  and  secure,  chloroform  may 
be  administered  in  it,  without  the  horse  going  down. 

THE  TWITCH  is  a  short  stick  of  strong  ash,  about  the  size  of  a 
mopstick,  with  a  hole  pierced  near  the  end,  through  which  is  passed 
a  piece  of  strong  but  small  cord,  and  tied  in  a  loop  large  enough 
to  admit  the  open  hand  freely.  This  is  passed  over  the  upper  Up 
close  to  the  nostrils,  and  then,  by  twisting  the  stick,  compression 
is  made  to  a  painful  extent,  which  will  keep  horses  quiet  for  any 
slight  operation.  Sometimes  it  is  placed  on  the  ear  in  preference, 
but  in  either  case  the  effect  is  dependent  on  the  pain  produced. 

BARNACLES  consist  in  the  application  of  pressure  by  means  of 
the  handles  of  a  pair  of  pincers  enclosing  the  muzzle,  and  held 
firmly  by  an  assistant.  They  are,  however,  not  so  useful  as  the 
twitch. 

BLEEDING. 
IN  THE    EARLY  PART  OP    THE    PRESENT    CENTURY  bleeding  was 

resorted  to  on  every  appearance  of  the  slightest  inflammation,  and 
often  without  the  slightest  necessity.  Many  horses  were  regularly 
bled  "  every  spring  and  fall,"  to  prevent  mischief,  as  was  supposed  ; 
but  at  last  it  always  happened  to  every  horse  which  lived  long 
enough,  that  the  more  frequently  blood  was  taken  the  more  the 
operation  was  required,  and  when  it  was  absolutely  wanted  to  lower 
the  heart's  action,  such  a  quantity  of  blood  must  be  taken  that 
the  system  was  reduced  to  a  dangerous  degree  Stallions  were 


436  THE  HORSE. 

constantly  submitted  to  this  treatment,  and  mares  as  long  as  they 
were  worked,  so  that  in  course  of  time  it  has  happened  to  the 
horse,  as  it  has  also  to  man  himself,  that  the  horrible  abuse  of  the 
lancet  for  two  or  three  consecutive  generations  has  completely 
changed  the  type  of  the  diseases  to  which  they  are  both  subject. 
Inflammation  does  not  now  follow  the  same  course  that  it  used  to 
do,  but  is  of  a  much  milder  type,  and  the  attendant  fever  is  in- 
clined to  assume  a  typhoid  character,  if  lowering  measures  are 
pushed  to  any  great  extent.  An  attempt  has  been  made  to  account 
for  this  change  in  human  diseases  by  the  alteration  in  the  habits 
of  the  present  generation,  which  are  certainly  more  temperate  than 
those  of  the  previous  one;  but  in  the  case  of  the  horse  the  reverse 
holds  good,  for  he  is  now  stimulated  by  more  corn  than  ever.  The 
only  point,  as  far  as  I  can  make  out,  in  which  the  horse  and  his 
master  have  been  similarly  maltreated,  is  in  the  abuse  of  the  lan- 
cet, which  undoubtedly  may  account  for  the  change  in  the  type 
of  their  diseases  to  which  I  have  alluded,  and  it  is,  therefore,  rea- 
sonable to  refer  it  to  this  cause.  But  though  this  powerful  agent 
has  been  thus  ab.used,  we  must  not  be  deterred  from  having  re- 
course to  it  when  severe  inflammation  occurs  in  the  horse.  Some- 
times there  is  no  time  to  wait  for  the  effects  of  a  slower  remedy, 
even  if  there  is  one  which  will  be  sufficiently  powerful  to  control 
the  heart's  action.  The  only  sensible  plan  in  such  case  is  to  choose 
the  lesser  of  the  two  evils,  and  to  save  life,  or  the  integrity  of  the 
organ  attacked,  as  the  case  may  be,  by  abstracting  blood,  always 
remembering  that  this  is  to  be  avoided  as  long  as  it  is  safe  to  do 
so,  but  that  when  it  is  decided  on,  a  sufficient  quantity  must  be 
taken  to  produce  a  sensible  effect,  without  which  there  is  no  at- 
tendant good  to  counterbalance  the  evil. 

BLEEDING  is  either  performed  in  the  jugular  vein,  when  the 
whole  system  is  to  be  affected ;  or  when  a  part  of  the  body  only  is 
inflamed,  it  may  be  desirable  to  abstract  blood  locally,  as  for  in- 
stance from  the  toe  or  from  the  plate  vein,  in  inflammation  of  the 
foot,  and  in  ophthalmia  from  the  vein  which  lies  on  the  face  just 
below  the  eye. 

THE  INSTRUMENTS  USED  are  either  the  lancet  or  the  fleam,  the 
former  being  the  safer  of  the  two,  but  requiring  some  practice  to 
manage  it  properly.  In  bleeding  from  the  jugular  vein  a  string 
is  sometimes  tied  round  the  neck  below  the  part  to  be  opened, 
which  is  four  or  five  inches  below  the  fork  in  the  vein  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  neck.  The  skilled  operator,  however,  makes  pressure 
with  his  left  hand  answer  the  purpose  of  causing  the  vein  to  rise, 
and  during  this  state  either  uses  the  lancet  with  his  right  or  the 
fleam  with  the  aid  afforded  by  the  blow  of  a  short  stick,  called  a 
''  blood  stick."  When  the  blood  begins  to  flow,  the  edge  of  the 
bucket  which  catches  it  is  pressed  against  the  same  part,  and  as 


BLEEDING— FIRING.  437 

long  as  this  is  continued  a  full  stream  will  run  until  faintness 
occurs.  After  sufficient  blood  has  been  taken,  the  two  lips  of  the 
wound  are  raised  between  the  fingers,  and  a  small  common  pin 
passed  through  both,  when  the  point  is  cut  off  and  some  tow  is 
twisted  round,  by  which  the  edges  are  kept  together  and  the  pin 
is  retained  in  position.  In  a  couple  of  days  the  pin  may  be  with- 
drawn without  disturbing  the  tow,  and  the  wound  will  heal  with 
little  or  no  deformity.  Sometimes  the  blood  continues  to  flow 
beneath  the  skin  after  it  is  pinned,  and  a  swelling  takes  place  in 
consequence,  which  is  called  ecchymosis.  When  this  happens, 
cold  water  should  be  freely  applied  and  the  head  kept  up  by  rack- 
ing to  the  manger. 

THE  QUANTITY  OF  BLOOD  necessary  to  be  taken  will  vary  accord- 
ing to  circumstances,  and  can  scarcely  be  fixed  from  the  appearance 
of  the  blood  drawn,  but  a  repetition  of  the  operation  may  be  de- 
cided on  if  the  clot  of  the  blood,  after  standing,  is  very  concave 
at  the  top  (cupped),  or  if  it  is  very  yellow  (buffed),  and  especially 
if  both  these  signs  are  present.  In  inflammation  of  a  severe  char- 
acter less  than  six  quarts  of  blood  will  seldom  lower  the  pulse 
sufficiently  to  be  of  much  service,  and  sometimes  seven  or  eight 
quarts  even  must  be  taken  from  a  large  plethoric  animal. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  VEIN  will  sometimes  supervene  upon 
bleeding,  the  symptoms  being  a  slight  swelling  appearing  in  the 
evening,  or  the  next  day,  with  a  little  oozing  from  the  wound. 
These  are  soon  followed  by  a  hard  cord-like  enlargement  of  the 
vein,  which  feels  hot  to  the  touch,  and  the  parts  at  the  angle  of 
the  jaw  swell  considerably.  The  consequence  generally  is  that  the 
vein  is  obliterated,  occasioning  some  disturbance  to  the  circulation, 
especially  when  the  head  is  held  down,  as  it  is  at  grass.  The 
treatment  consists  in  cold  applications  as  long  as  there  is  heat,  the 
lotion  recommended  at  page  316  being  generally  useful.  When 
the  heat  has  subsided,  and  the  vein  remains  enlarged,  the  binio- 
dide  of  mercury  will  procure  the  absorption  of  the  new  deposit,  by 
rubbing  it  in  as  recommended  at  page  300.* 

FIRING. 

THE  PURPOSE  for  which  the  heated  iron  is  employed  is  twofold ; 
first,  to  produce  immediate  counter-irritation,  by  which  the  pre- 
vious inflammation  is  reduced ;  and  secondly,  to  cause  the  forma- 
tion of  a  tight  compress  over  the  part,  which  lasts  for  some  months. 
It  is  the  fashion  to  deny  the  existence  of  the  latter  effect  of  this 
operation ;  but  every  practical  man  must  be  aware  that  it  follows 

*  Bleeding  in  veterinary  practice  is  by  no  means  so  general  as  formerly, 
the  substitution  of  pure  air,  cold  water  and  aconite,  except  in  -diseases  of 
the  head,  proving  very  satisfactory. — EDITOR. 
37* 


438  THE  HORSE. 

upon  firing  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  according  to  circumstances 
but  always  lasting  for  a  few  months,  until  the  skin  stretches  to  its 
previous  condition.  The  blemish  which  it  leaves,  and  the  pain 
which  it  occasions,  both  during  and  after  the  application  of  the 
irons,  should  cause  it  to  be  avoided  when  any  equally  useful  substi- 
tute can  be  employed  ;  but,  unfortunately,  there  are  many  cases 
where  it  stands  without  a  rival,  as  being  at  once  the  safest  and  the 
most  efficient  remedy  which  can  be  adopted.  Blisters  and  setons 
can  be  made  to  cause  the  same  amount  of  counter-irritation  ;  but 
the  inflammation  accompanying  the  former  often  extends  beneath 
the  skin,  and  increases  the  mischief  it  was  intended  to  relieve ; 
while  the  latter  has  no  effect  whatever  in  producing  pressure  upon 
the  parts  beneath.  The  pain  of  firing  can  be  relieved  entirely  at 
the  time  of  the  operation  by  chloroform;  but  the  subsequent 
smarting  is  quite  as  bad,  and  this  is  beyond  the  reach  of  any 
ansesthetic.  Independently,  however,  of  the  interests  of  the  master, 
it  is  also  to  the  advantage  of  the  horse  to  get  thoroughly  cured; 
for  if  he  is  not,  he  will  either  work  on  in  misery,  or  he  will  be  con- 
signed to  the  knacker's  yard ;  and,  therefore,  the  adoption  of  the 
most  efficacious  plan  of  treatment,  even  if  somewhat  the  most  pain- 
ful, is  the  best  for  both. 

FIRING  MAY  BE  PERFORMED  STANDING,  by  the  use  of  the  side 
line  for  the  hind  leg,  or  by  fixing  up  one  fore  leg  when  the  other 
is  to  be  operated  on.  There  is,  however,  nothing  like  the  break  or 
trevis,  where  more  than  a  slight  extent  of  surface  is  to  be  lined. 
The  firing-iron  should  have  a  smooth  edge,  about  the  thickness  of 
a  worn  shilling ;  and  it  should  be  heated  to  the  point  when  it  shows 
a  dull  red  in  the  dark.  When  the  disease  for  which  the  irons  are 
used  is  slight,  the  skin  should  not  be  penetrated  ;  but  in  bad  cases, 
where  the  mischief  is  great,  and  particularly  when  it  is  wanted  to 
have  a  good  permanent  bandage,  the  cauterization  must  be  deeper ; 
but  this  requires  some  practical  knowledge  to  decide.  The  hair 
of  the  part  should  be  cut  very  closely  with  the  scissors,  or  shaved  ; 
then,  having  secured  the  leg.  the  iron  is  to  be  steadily  but  rapidly 
passed  in  parallel  lines  over  the  skin,  making  just  the  proper  pres- 
sure which  is  required  to  burn  to  the  requisite  depth.  A  light 
brown  mark  should  be  left,  which  shows  that  the  proper  effect  has 
been  produced;  and  the  color  should  be  uniform,  unless  it  is  de- 
sired to  penetrate  deeper  at  certain  parts,  which  is  sometimes 
practised  with  advantage.  The  lines  are  sometimes  made  in  a 
slanting  direction  round  the  leg,  and  at  others  straight  up  and 
down  ;  but  it  is  useless  to  describe  the  details  of  this  operation, 
which  can  only  be  learned  by  watching  its  performance  by  another 
hand.  Badly  done  firing  is  always  an  eyesore  ;  but  when  the  lines 
are  evenly  drawn,  and  they  have  healed  without  any  sloughs, 
caused  by  irregular  or  excessive  pressure,  they  show  that  a  master- 


FIRING— SETONS  AND  ROWELS.  439 

hand  has  been  at  work,  and  that  the  poor  beast  has  been  treated 
scientifically.  In  very  severe  diseases,  a  blister  is  sometimes  ap- 
plied over  the  part,  immediately  after  the  firing ;  but  this  can 
seldom  be  required,  and  as  it  aggravates  the  pain  tenfold,  it  should 
be  avoided,  if  possible.  On  the  following  day,  a  little  neat's-foot 
oil  should  be  gently  rubbed,  or  brushed  with  a  feather,  over  the 
leg ;  and  this  should  be  repeated  daily,  until  the  swelling  which 
comes  on  has  nearly  subsided.  Less  than  three  months'  rest 
should  never  be  allowed  for  the  operation  to  have  its  full  effect,  as, 
if  the  horse  is  put  to  work  before  that  time  has  elapsed,  the  dis- 
ease will  almost  certainly  return.  Indeed,  it  is  far  better  to  allow 
double  this  time,  especially  if  the  horse  is  wanted  for  fast  work. 

SETONS  AND  BOWELS. 

SETONS  are  pieces  of  tape  or  lamp  cotton,  passed  through  and 
beneath  the  skin,  leaving  the  two  ends  hanging  out,  either  tied 
together  or  with  a  knot  upon  each.  The  latter  is  the  safer  plan, 
as  the  loop  is  always  liable  to  be  caught  on  a  hook  or  other  pro- 
jecting body.  The  needle  with  which  the  passage  is  effected  has 
a  spear  point,  slightly  turned  up,  and  an  eye  at  the  other  end  (see 
fig.  22),  through  which  the  tape  or  cotton  is  threaded.  The 


FlG.  22. — SETON  NEEDLES   ONE  QUARTER  SIZE. 

ordinary  one  is  about  nine  or  ten  inches  long,  and  by  its  means  a 
tape  or  piece  of  lamp  cotton,  smeared  with  blister  cerate,  may  be 
passed  through  a  long  track  of  the  cellular  membrane,  by  pinching 
up  the  skin  into  a  fold,  and  piercing  this  close  to  the  body  with 
the  needle,  which  is  then  to  be  carried  straight  through.  On 
drawing  the  tape  out  of  the  eye,  it  must  be  tied  in  a  large  knot  at 
each  end,  which  will  prevent  its  slipping  out.  In  three  or  four 
days,  a  profuse  discharge  will  come  on,  and  it  must  ke  kept  up,  if 
necessary,  by  repeated  applications  of  blister  cerate,  or  digestive 
ointment,  as  may  be  necessary.  The  ends  should  be  sponged 
occasionally,  to  remove  the  accumulated  matter. 

A  SMALLER  CURVED  NEEDLE,  about  five  or  six  inches  long  (see 
lower  figure,  22)  is  used  for  introducing  a  seton  into  the  frog,  or 
beneath  the  eye.  For  the  former  operation,  a  twitch  is  first 
applied,  and  the  foot  is  then  buckled  up  to  the  arm,  as  described 
at  page  167.  The  needle  then,  armed  with  the  tape,  greased  with 


440  THE  HORSE. 

blister  cerate,  and  a  little  oil  to  lubricate  the  surface,  is  thrust  in 
at  the  heel  and  out  at  the  cleft  of  the  frog,  taking  care  not  to  go 
deep  enough  to  wound  the  tendon  as  it  passes  over  the  navicular 
bone.  The  needle  is  then  forcibly  drawn  through,  and  the  tape 
knotted,  as  already  described.  The  openings  must  be  kept  clean 
by  sponging  daily  ;  and  in  three  or  four  weeks  the  tape  will  have 
nearly  worked  its  way  out,  when  it  may  be  withdrawn. 

ROWELS  are  now  seldom  employed,  being  very  unmanageable 
plans  for  causing  counter-irritation.  An  incision,  about  an  inch 
long,  is  made  in  the  skin,  selecting  a  part  where  it  is  loosely  at- 
tached, and  into  this  a  blunt  instrument,  called  a  "  cornet,"  is 
pushed,  and  worked  about  in  all  directions,  until  the  skin  is  sepa- 
rated from  the  subjacent  parts  for  a  circle  with  a  diameter  of  from 
two  to  three  inches  Into  this  a  piece  of  thick  leather  of  that 
diameter,  with  a  hole  in  the  middle,  is  inserted,  previously  having 
smeared  it  with  blister  cerate ;  and  the  part  is  then  left  to  nature. 
In  a  few  days,  a  discharge  of  matter  comes  on,  which  must  be 
washed  off  occasionally;  and  in  the  course  of  time,  the  leather,  if 
allowed,  would  find  its  way  out  by  ulceration.  Before,  however, 
this  takes  place,  it  is  generally  removed. 

BLISTERING. 

WHEN  IT  is  DECIDED  TO  BLISTER  any  part,  the  hair  should  be 
cut  off  as  closely  as  possible ;  the  ointment  is  then  rubbed  in  with 
the  hand  for  ten  minutes,  leaving  a  good  quantity  smeared  on  the 
surface.  If  the  legs  are  to  be  blistered,  the  heels  should  be  pro- 
tected by  lard.  Considerable  itching  is  caused  after  the  first  two 
or  three  days,  and  many  horses,  if  allowed,  gnaw  the  part  to  such 
an  extent  as  to  cause  a  serious  blemish.  It  is  therefore  necessary 
to  keep  the  head  away,  which  is  done  by  putting  a  "  cradle  "  on 
the  neck.  The  irritation  of  loose  straw  is  very  aggravating,  and 
the  stall  or  box  should  either  be  bedded  with  tan,  or  sawdust,  or 
with  used  litter,  so  damp  as  to  lie  smoothly.  It  is  generally  the 
practice  to  put  the  blistered  horse  on  a  bare  floor;  but  he  will  often 
do  great  harm  to  his  legs  and  feet  (which  are  of  course  unsound, 
or  they  would  not  be  treated  in  this  way),  by  constantly  stamping 
from  the  pain  occasioned  while  the  blister  is  beginning  to  rise. 
When  the  legs  are  stiff  and  sore  from  the  swelling,  he  stands  still 
enough,  but  at  first  there  is  nothing  of  this  kind  to  keep  him  quiet. 
James's  blister,  which  is  very  mild,  and  useful  for  trifling  diseases 
of  the  legs,  or  for  bringing  on  the  hair  after  "  broken  knee,"  can 
generally  be  used  without  a  cradle ;  but  even  with  it.  horses  will 
sometimes  gnaw  themselves,  and  it  is  better  not  to  run  any  risk. 
At  the  end  of  a  week,  some  neat's-foot  oil  should  be  applied  every 
morning,  with  a  feather  or  soft  brush,  to  keep  the  scabs  as  supple 


CASTRATION.  441 

as  possible.  The  various  formulas  for  blisters  will  be  given  in  the 
list  of  inateria  medica. 

CASTRATION. 

FOR  REMOVING  THE  TESTICLES  several  methods  of  operation 
have  been  proposed ;  but  hitherto  none  has  been  tried  which  is  so 
successful  as  the  old  plan,  in  which  the  division  of  the  cord  is  per- 
formed by  a  heated  iron  with  a  sharp  edge.  In  human  surgery 
the  spermatic  artery  is  tied,  and  all  danger  of  hemorrhage  is  over, 
because  the  small  amount  of  bleeding  which  takes  place  from  the 
artery  of  the  cord  is  of  no  consequence,  as  it  cannot  enter  the  cavity 
of  the  peritoneum.  In  the  horse,  on  the  other  hand,  the  inguinal 
canal  communicates  with  that  cavity,  and  if  the  ligature  is  used, 
there  is  a  double  danger  of  inflammation — first,  from  effused  blood, 
and  secondly,  from  the  irritation  of  the  ends  of  the  ligature.  This 
plan,  therefore,  is  now  generally  abandoned,  though  some  few  prac- 
titioners still  adhere  to  it,  and  the  choice  rests  between  two  methods 
of  removal  by  cautery,  namely,  the  actual  and  potential, — the 
former  giving  more  pain  at  the  moment  when  the  heated  iron  is 
applied,  but  the  latter  being  really  far  more  severe,  as  the  caustic 
is  a  long  time  in  effecting  a  complete  death  of  the  nerve  and  other 
sensitive  parts.  Torsion  of  the  vessels  has  been  also  tried,  but  it 
is  often  followed  by  haemorrhage,  and,  moreover,  the  pain  which 
is  caused  during  the  twisting  of  the  artery  is  apparently  quite  as 
great  as  is  given  by  the  heated  iron.  We  are  all  inclined  to  fancy 
that  fire  occasions  more  agony  than  it  really  does,  but  those  who 
have  in  their  own  persons  been  unfortunately  able  to  compare  the 
effects  of  the  two  kinds  of  cautery,  have  uniformly  admitted  that 
the  actual  is  less  severe  than  the  potential,  if  the  two  are  used  so 
as  to  produce  the  same  amount  of  cauterization. 

THE    BEST    PERIOD    FOR    PERFORMING    THE    OPERATION    on    the 

foal  is  just  before  weaning,  provided  the  weather  is  mild.  If,  how- 
ever, his  neck  is  very  light,  and  the  withers  low,  its  postponement 
till  the  following  spring  will  give  a  better  chance  for  the  develop- 
ment of  these  parts.  The  cold  of  winter  and  heat  of  summer  are 
both  prejudicial,  and  the  months  of  April,  May,  September,  or 
October  should  always  be  selected. 

No  PREPARATION  is  REQUIRED  in  the  "  sucker,"  but  after  wean- 
ing the  system  always  requires  cooling  by  a  dose  of  physic  and 
light  food  before  castration  can  safely  be  performed.  Horses  which 
have  been  in  training,  or  other  kind  of  work  attended  with  high 
feeding,  require  at  least  three  weeks'  or  a  month's  rest  and  lower- 
ing, by  removing  corn,  mashing,  &c.,  together  with  a  couple  of 
doses  of  physic,  before  they  are  fit  to  be  castrated. 

FOR    THE    ORDINARY    METHOD    OF    OPERATING,  a  pair   of  clams 

should  be  provided,  lined  at  the  surfaces  where  the  compression 


442  THE  HORSE. 

is  made,  with  thick  layers  of  vulcanized  india-rubber.  This  ma 
lerial  gives  a  very  firm  hold  without  bruising  the  cord,  and  causing 
thereby  inflammation.  A  large  scalpel  and  a  couple  of  irons  will 
complete  the  list  of  instruments,  over  and  above  the  apparatus 
necessary  for  casting  the  horse  (see  Casting,  page  433).  The  horse 
being  properly  secured  according  to  the  directions  there  given,  and 
a  twitch  being  put  on  the  lip  in  case  he  should  struggle  much,  the 


FlG.  23.— CLAMS  LINED  -WITH  VULCANIZED  INDIA-RUBBER. 

operator,  kneeling  on  the  left  side,  grasps  the  testicle  so  as  to  make 
the  skin  of  the  scrotum  covering  it  quite  tense.  A  longitudinal 
incision,  about  three  inches  long,  is  then  made  down  to  the  testicle, 
which,  if  care  has  been  taken  that  there  is  no  rupture,  may  be 
rapidly  done — a  wound  of  its  surface  not  being  of  the  slightest  con- 
sequence, and  giving  far  less  pain  than  the  slow  niggling  dissection 
of  its  coverings,  which  is  sometimes  practised  to  avoid  it.  The 
testicle  can  now  be  cleared  of  its  coverings,  and  the  hand  laying 
hold  of  it  gently,  the  operator  raises  it  from  its  bed,  and  slips  the 
clams  on  each  side  the  cord,  at  once  making  the  proper  pressure 
with  them,  which  should  be  sufficient  to  prevent  all  risk  of  the 
part  enclosed  slipping  from  between  its  jaws.  Great  care  should 
be  taken  that  the  whole  of  the  testicle,  including  the  epididimis, 
is  external  to  the  clams ;  and  as  soon  as  this  is  satisfactorily  ascer- 
tained, the  cord  may  be  divided  with  the  ordinary  firing-iron  at  a 
red  heat.  To  make  sure  that  no  haemorrhage  shall  occur,  some 
operators  sear  the  artery  separately  with  a  pointed  iron ;  but  if  the 
division  is  slowly  made  with  the  heated  iron,  and  avoiding  any 
drag  upon  the  cord,  no  such  accident  will  be  at  all  likely  to  follow, 
though  very  rarely  it  will  happen  in  spite  of  every  care.  The 
clams  may  now  be  removed,  and  the  other  testicle  treated  in  the 
same  way;  after  which  the  hobbles  are  cautiously  removed,  and  the 
patient  is  placed  in  a  roomy  loose  box,  where  he  can  take  sufficient 
exercise  to  insure  the  gravitation  of  the  discharge,  but  no  more. 

THE  FRENCH  PLAN,  by  means  of  caustic,  requires  two  pieces 
of  wood,  each  about  six  inches  long  and  an  inch  square,  with  a 
notch  or  neck  at  each  end,  to  hold  the  twine  by  which  they  are 
tied  together,  and  a  groove  in  the  two  opposite  surfaces,  to  hold 
the  caustic.  This  is  composed  of  one  part  of  corrosive  sublimate 
and  four  of  flour,  made  into  a  paste  with  water,  and  it  is  intro- 


CASTRATION.  443 

duced  while  moist  into  the  grooves,  which  it  should  completely  fill. 
The  horse  is  then  secured  as  before,  the  cord  is  exposed,  the  pieces 
of  wood  are  adjusted  on  each  side,  and  firmly  held  together  with 
pincers  by  an  assistant,  while  the  operator  binds  their  ends  together 
with  waxed  string.  The  testicle  may  now  be  removed  with  the 
knife,  if  the  string  has  been  tied  sufficiently  tight;  but  unless  the 
operator  has  had  some  experience,  it  is  safer  to  let  it  remain  on  till 
it  comes  away  by  the  ulceration  of  the  cord.  This  is  the  uncovered 
operation,  the  covered  one  being  performed  with  the  same  instru- 
ments, as  follows.  The  scrotum  is  grasped,  and  opened,  taking 
care  to  avoid  wounding  the  tunica  vaginalis  reflexa,  or  outer  serous 
investment,  but  cutting  down  to  it  through  the  skin,  dartos  muscle, 
and  cellular  membrane.  These  are  to  be  carefully  dissected  back, 
until  the  cord  can  be  isolated  without  wounding  its  serous  invest- 
ment (tunica  vaginalis),  which  is  so  thin  that  it  is  easy  to  ascertain 
with  certainty  the  nature  of  its  contents  by  examination  with  the 
fingers.  If  there  is  no  hernia,  the  caustic  can  at  once  be  applied 
to  its  outside  in  the  same  way  as  before ;  and  if  there  is,  it  must 
be  pushed  back  into  the  cavity  of  the  abdomen,  by  a  little  careful 
manipulation. 

SOME  VETERINARY  SURGEONS  operate  in  a  similar  way  to  one 
or  other  of  the  two  last  described  plans,  with  the  omission  of  the 
caustic,  which  they  maintain  is  wholly  unnecessary,  for  there  must 
be  sufficient  pressure  to  cause  a  sloughing  of  the  cord  There  is 
certainly  some  truth  in  this  argument,  but  if  the  pressure  has  not 
been  sufficient  to  cause  the  slou'ghs,  the  caustic  will  assure  that 
essential  process,  and  thus  it  renders  the  operation  safer,  though 
it  somewhat  increases  the  subsequent  local  inflammation.  The 
plan  without  caustic  is  almost  precisely  the  same,  as  far  as  safety  is 
concerned,  as  that  formerly  adopted  by  country  farriers,  called 
"  twitching,"  in  which  two  pieces  of  wood  were  applied  on  each 
side  the  base  of  the  scrotum,  and  tied  firmly  at  each  end.  The 
pain,  however,  occasioned  by  the  pressure  on  so  large  a  surface 
of  skin  is  intense,  and  the  operation  is  on  that  account  indefensible, 
besides  which  it  is  not  nearly  so  successful  as  either  the  ordinary 
English  or  French  operations. 

[The  accompanying  engraving  represents  the  Ecraseur  introduced  to  his 
students  by  the  Editor  some  eight  years  since.  Its  use  obviates  the  necessity 

FIG.  24. 


of  any  previous  preparation,  so  that  a  horse  of  twenty  years  is  operated 


444 


THE  HORSE. 


upon  with  as  much  safety  as  a  colt  of  as  many  months  ;  the  pain  caused  by 
it  lasts  but  a  few  minutes,  while  under  the  old  system  of  clams  and  red  hot 
irons,  it  often  continued  from  twelve  to  twenty-four  hours.  It  is  now  very 
extensively,  and  in  some  parts  of  the  country  exclusively,  used,  giving  perfect 
satisfaction  alike  to  the  operator  and  owner  of  the  horse. — EDITOR.] 

DOCKING  AND   NICKING. 

THESE  OPERATIONS  ON  THE  TAIL  are  subject  to  the  fashion 
of  the  day,  the  former  being  used  for  the  purpose  of  shortening 
its  length,  which  is  inconvenient  to  the  rider  or  driver  in  dirty 
weather,  and  the  latter  for  altering  its  carriage,  when  this  is  too 
low  for  the  taste  of  the  owner.  Nicking,  is,  however,  very  seldom 
practised  in  the  present  day,  and  never  to  the  extent  which  was 
the  fashion  fifty  years  ago. 

DOCKING  is  very  rapidly  performed  by  the  aid  of  the  docking- 
knife,  which  is  made  on  the  principle  of  the  guillotine.  As  the 
tail  is  removed  at  one  sudden  and  forcible  chop,  the  horse  need 
not  be  confined  in  any  way  beyond  fixing  up  his  fore  leg,  unless  he 


Fig.  25 — DOCKING-KNIFE. 

is  a  very  violent  animal,  when  he  must  be  placed  in  the  break  (see 
page  435).  The  exact  length  of  the  dock  to  be  left  being  fixed 
upon,  the  hair  is  cut  off  close  below,  and  the  remainder  tied  back 
to  the  root  of  the  tail.  The  situation  of  the  joint,  which  may  be 
ascertained  from  its  greater  prominence,  is  then  marked,  by  care- 
fully removing  the  hair  with  the  scissors,  and  then  laying  it  in  the 
rounded  groove  of  the  wooden  frame  in  which  the  knife  plays,  so 
that  the  edge  of  the  latter  shall  exactly  correspond  with  the  part 
to  be  cut,  the  handles  are  suddenly  and  forcibly  brought  together, 
and  the  end  is  removed  at  one  blow.  A  pointed  iron  should  have 
been  previously  heated,  and  then  raising  the  tail  to  a  level  with 
the  back,  the  arteries  are  first  seared,  which  a  very  slight  touch 
will  effect,  and  then  the  point  is  pushed  into  the  sheath  of  the 
tendons  lying  at  the  top  of  the  stump,  so  as  to  cause  them  to 
adhere  in  that  position,  and  effect  a  handsome  carriage  of  the  tail. 


DOCKING— NICKING— REDUCTION  OF  HERNIA.  445 

Lastly,  a  little  resin  is  melted  over  the  end  of  the  stump  with  the 
iron  now  pretty  nearly  cooled,  and  the  operation  is  concluded  by 
untying  the  hair. 

NICKING  was  formerly  carried  to  such  an  extent  that  the  poor 
horse  could  not  lower  his  tail,  but  was  always  obliged  to  carry  it 
over  his  back.  Several  deep  cross-cuts  were  made  in  the  under- 
side after  being  docked,  and  then  a  cord  was  fastened  to  the  hair, 
and  being  carried  over  a  pulley  attached  to  the  ceiling,  the  tail 
was  kept  drawn  up  over  the  back  by  a  weight  at  its  end.  The 
horse  could  lie  down  by  raising  the  weight,  but  by  no  possible 
means  could  he  lower  his  tail,  and  in  course  of  time  the  wounds 
healed  by  granulation  filling  up  their  spaces,  and  the  nicking  was 
completed.  When  a  horse  now  carries  his  dock  too  low,  a  sub- 
cutaneous incision  of  the  flexor  tendons  is  made,  which  is  generally 
sufficient,  but  if  not  the  pulley  is  adopted  for  a  few  days.  Some- 
times the  tail  is  carried  on  one  side,  and  then  a  similar  operation 
by  subcutaneous  division  of  the  tendons  on  the  side  to  which  the 
tail  is  carried  will  have  the  desired  effect,  always  taking  care  in 
each  case  to  keep  the  knife  clear  of  a  joint. 

UNNERVING. 

THE  NERVES  distributed  to  the  foot  are  sometimes  divided  for 
navicular  disease,  as  they  lie  on  each  side  of  the  bone  above  the 
fetlock  joint.  No  one,  however,  should  attempt  this  operation 
without  having  previously  seen  it  performed,  as  it  requires  con- 
siderable dexterity  for  its  due  execution.  I  have  described  such 
operations  as  may  be  wanted  in  the  parts  of  the  country  where  a 
veterinary  surgeon  cannot  always  be  reached,  but  unnerving  is  but 
seldom  required,  and  I  shall  therefore  omit  any  detailed  account 
of  it. 

REDUCTION  OF  HERNIA. 

HERNIA  is  sometimes  strangulated ;  that  is  to  say,  the  protrud- 
ing portion  of  bowel  is  confined  in  its  situation  by  such  pressure 
on  its  neck  as  to  cause  danger  of  mortification.  Under  such  cir- 
cumstances, if  it  is  found  to  be  impossible  to  return  the  bowel  by 
careful  manipulation,  an  operation  must  be  performed.  This  con- 
sists in  carefully  dissecting  through  the  coverings  of  the  bowel, 
and  when  it  is  exposed,  a  long  and  narrow  guarded  knife  (Bistouri 
cache)  is  passed  by  the  side  of  the  intestine  through  the  opening 
into  the  abdomen,  and  then  making  the  blade  prominent  it  is  with- 
drawn, and  the  fibres  causing  the  pressure  are  divided.  This 
usually  allows  of  the  bowel  being  passed  back  again  into  the 
abdomen,  when  the  operation  is  completed  by  bringing  the  parts 
together  with  one  or  two  stitches. 

WHEN  HERNIA  OCCURS  IN  THE  COLT  either  at  the  navel  or 
scrotum,  it  is  often  desired  to  effect  a  cure  by  returning  the  bowel 
38 


446  THE  HORSE. 

and  causing  the  opening  to  close  by  adhesive  inflammation.  If 
the  colt  is  uncut,  the  performance  of  the  covered  operation  on  the 
French  plan  (see  page  443)  will  generally  succeed,  great  care 
being  of  course  necessary  to  return  the  intestine  before  the  clams 
are  applied.  In  umbilical  hernia  a  similar  plan  has  been  tried, 
but  the  adhesion  is  too  superficial  to  be  of  much  use ;  and  the  only 
successful  method  is  the  passage  of  one  or  two  skewers  through 
the  opposite  edges  of  the  opening,  and  then  winding  some  waxed 
twine  round  them,  with  a  moderate  degree  of  force.  This  should 
not  be  sufficient  to  cause  mortification,  or  tbe  opening  will  only  be 
increased  in  size,  and  the  bowel  will  protrude  without  any  covering 
of  skin ;  but  it  should  be  just  sufficient  to  cause  adhesive  inflam- 
mation ;  experience  in  such  matters  alone  enabling  the  operator  to 
hit  upon  the  right  amount. 

IN  ALL  OPERATIONS  FOR  HERNIA  chloroform  is  of  great  assist- 
ance, as  it  prevents  the  risk  of  a  protrusion  of  the  bowel  while  the 
knife  is  being  used,  which  will  otherwise  sometimes  happen  during 
the  struggles  of  the  horse. 

THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  PHYSIC. 

MEDICINE  may  be  given  to  the  horse  either  in  the  solid  form 
as  a  ball,  or  liquid,  and  then  called  a  drench,  or  as  a  dry  powder, 
when  in  small  compass  and  with  little  taste,  mixed  with  the  corn 
or  mash.  Sometimes  also  a  small  quantity  of  a  tasteless  liquid, 
such  as  liquor  arsenicalis,  may  be  given  with  the  food. 

IN  GIVING  A  BALL,  place  a  halter  on  the  head  with  a  knot,  so 
that  the  jaws  may  be  widely  opened.  Then  turn  the  horse  round 
in  the  stall  and  back  him  up  to  the  manger,  lay  hold  of  the  tongue 
and  draw  it  out  of  the  mouth,  grasp  it  with  the  left  hand,  which 
must  also  hold  the  halter-cord  so  short  that  the  strain  is  partly 
taken  off  the  tongue,  and  then  holding  the  ball  in  the  right  hand 
with  the  fingers  enclosing  it  like  a  cone,  and,  the  arm  bare,  it 
should  be  rapidly  carried  to  the  back  of  the  mouth  and  deposited 
there,  holding  the  head  up  till  it  is  seen  to  pass  down  the  gullet. 
Cautious  grooms  use  a  balling  iron,  which  gags  the  mouth  and 
protects  the  arm,  but  a  handy  man  will  have  less  difficulty  in  intro- 
ducing his  hand  than  in  inserting  the  gag,  unless  the  horse  is  a 
determined  biter,  when  it  may  be  absolutely  necessary.  In  that 
case  the  gag  is  insinuated  with  as  much  ease  as  a  bit  in  a  flat 
direction,  and  the  handle  being  suddenly  depressed,  the  mouth 
gapes  and  the  teeth  cannot  be  brought  together.  Then  holding 
its  handle  together  with  the  halter  in  the  left  hand,  the  right 
easily  introduces  the  ball  into  the  pharynx. 

IN  GIVING  A  DRENCH,  two  persons  are  necessary,  the  operator 
standing  at  the  right  shoulder,  while  the  assistant  is  ready  to  steady 
the  head  and  aid  him  on  the  left.  The  operator  raises  the  head 


PHYSIC— CLYSTERS— BACK-RAKING.  447 

with  his  left  hand  beneath  the  jaw,  and  with  his  right  he  forces 
the  lip  of  the  horn  into  the  side  of  the  mouth,  and,  raising  the 
small  end,  pours  the  contents  in.  If  the  horse  is  violent,  a  twitch 
must  be  placed  on  the  nose,  and  held  by  the  assistant.  The  horn 
must  not  be  passed  far  into  the  mouth,  or  any  unnecessary  violence 
used,  for  fear  of  producing  a  cough ;  in  which  case,  the  hand  must 
be  instantly  lowered.  A  neglect  of  this  precaution  will  probably 
cause  some  of  the  liquid  to  pass  into  the  larynx. 

CLYSTERS 

ARE  MOST  VALUABLE  AGENTS,  if  properly  administered.  The 
best  syringe  for  the  purpose  is  Read's,  by  which  any  quantity  may 
be  thrown  up ;  and  in  colic,  some  gallons  of  warm  water  are  some- 
times required  to  produce  the  desired  effect.  For  an  ordinary 
opening  clyster,  a  handful  or  two  of  common  salt  may  be  dissolved 
in  five  or  six  quarts  of  warm  water. 

BACK-RAKING 

Is  '  EFFECTED  by  passing  the  greased  hand  and  arm  into  the 
rectum,  and  withdrawing  any  hardened  faeces  which  may  have 
accumulated  there.  When  the  quantity  of  these  is  great,  the  hand 
must  be  passed  several  times,  until  it  cannot  reach  any  more. 
Whenever  physic  is  given  to  an  unprepared  horse,  as  is  sometimes 
necessary  in  severe  disease,  this  precaution  should  never  be 
neglected.  Mr.  Gramgee,  of  Edinburgh,  is  of  opinion  that  this 
operation  is  more  safely  and  easily  performed  by  the  aid  of  instru- 
ments, supporting  his  views  by  the  assertion  that  the  introduction 
of  the  hand  gives  unnecessary  pain.  On  one  or  two  occasions  I 
have  certainly  seen  a  shoulder  of  mutton  at  the  end  of  a  human 
arm,  and  this  would  perhaps  cause  some  little  difficulty ;  but  no 
hand  of  average  size  is  nearly  so  large  as  the  mass  of  dung  usually 
passed ;  and  those  who  are  not  above  doing  a  dirty  job  when  duty 
requires  it,  well  know  by  experience  that  the  hand  and  arm  may  br 
passed  to  the  shoulder  without  giving  any  pain  whatsoever.  In 
struments  are  useful  when  they  cannot  be  dispensed  with,  but  they 
are  always  liable  to  cause  laceration. 


448  THE  HORSE. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

THE  PRINCIPAL  MEDICINES,  AND  THE  DOSES  IN  WHICH  THEY 
CAN  SAFELY  BE  ADMINISTERED  : 

Alteratives  — Anodynes  — Antiseptics — Anti-Zumins — Aperients — • 
Astringents — Blisters —  Ca  us  tics,  or  Cauteries — Clysters  — De- 
tergents— Diuretics — Embrocations,  or  Liniments — Febrifuges 
— Injections — Lotions,  or  Washes — Physic  Balls  and  Drenches 
—  Stimulants  —  Stomachics  —  Tonics  —  Traumatics  —  Vermi- 
fuges, or  Worm  Medicines. 


(The  Formulae  enclosed  in  [  ]  are  by  the  American  Editor.) 


ALTERATIVES. 

THIS  TERM  is  NOT  VERY  SCIENTIFIC,  but  it  is  in  very  general 
use,  and  easily  explains  its  own  meaning,  though  the  modus  operandi 
of  the  drugs  employed  to  carry  it  out  is  not  so  clear.  The  object  is 
to  replace  unhealthy  action  by  a  healthy  one,  without  resorting  to 
any  of  the  distinctly-defined  remedies,  such  as  tonics,  stomachics, 
&c.  As  a  general  rule,  this  class  of  remedies  produce  their  effect 
by  acting  slowly  but  steadily  on  the  depuratory  organs,  as  the  liver, 
kidneys,  and  skin.  The  following  may  be  found  useful : — 

1.  IN  DISORDERED  STATES  OF  THE  SKIN — 

Emetic  Tartar    .         •         .         .         .5  ounces. 
Powdered  Ginger       .  -  .         .3  ounces. 

Opium       ......     1  ounce. 

Syrup  enough  to  form  16  balls  :  one  to  be  given  every  night. 

2.  SIMPLY  COOLING — 

Barbadoes  Aloes  .  .  ,  .  .1  ounce. 
Castile  Soap  .  »  .  ;  .  .  l£  ounce. 
Ginger  .  .  .'  •  •  .  •  -  £  ounce. 

Syrup  enough  to  form  6  balls  :  one  to  be  given  every  morning.     Or, 

3.  Barbadoes  Aloes         .         .         .         .     lj  drachm. 
Emetic  Tartar    .         .         .         .         .2    drachms. 
Castile  Soap       .         .         .         .         .2    drachms.   Mix. 

4.  ALTERATIVE  BALL  FOR  GENERAL  USE — 

Black  Sulphuret  of  Antimony     .         .     2  to  4  drachms. 
Sulphur     ......     2  drachms. 

Nitre          .         .         ,         .         .         .2  drachms. 
Linseed  meal  and  water  enough  to  form  a  ball. 


APERIENTS— ANODYNES.  449 

5.  FOR  GENERALLY  DEFECTIVE  SECRETIONS — 

Elowers  of  Sulphur   .         .         .         .     6  ounces. 

Emetic  Tartar 5  to  8  drachms. 

Corrosive  Sublimate  .         .         .         .10  grains. 

Linseed   meal  mixed  with  hot  water,  enough  to  form  6  balls,  one  of 
which  may  be  given  two  or  three  times  a  week. 

6.  IN  DEBILITY  OF  STOMACH — 

Calomel  .  .  .  •  v .  .1  scruple. 
Aloes  .  .  .  .1.1  drachm. 
Cascarilla  Bark,  ^ 

Gentian  Boot,  >  of  each  in  powder  .  1  drachm. 
Ginger,  j 

Castile  Soap 3  drachms. 

Syrup  enough  to  make  a  ball,  which  may  be  given  twice  a  week,  or 
every  other  night.   . 


ANODYNES, 

SOMETIMES  CALLED  NARCOTICS,  when  taken  into  the  stomach, 
pass  at  once  into  the  blood,  and  there  act  in  a  special  hianner  on 
the  nervous  centres.  At  first  they  exalt  the  nervous  force ;  but 
they  soon  depress  it,  the  second  stage  coming  on  the  sooner  accord- 
ing to  the  increase-  of  the  dose.  They  are  given  either  to  soothe 
the  general  nervous  system,  or  to  stop  diarrhoea  j  or  sometimes  to 
relieve  spasm,  as  in  colic  or  tetanus.  Opium  is  the  chief  anodyne 
used  in  veterinary  medicine,  and  it  may  be  employed  in  very  large 


1.  ANODYNE  DRENCH  FOR  COLIC — 

Linseed  Oil        .....     1  pint. 
Oil  of  Turpentine      .         .         .         .     1  to  2  ounces. 
Laudanum          .         .         .         .         .     1  to  2  ounces. 
Mix,  and  give  every  hour  till  relief  is  afforded. 

2.  ANODYNE  BALL  FOR  COLIC  (only  useful  in  mild  cases) — 

Powdered  Opium        .         .         .         .     £  to  2  drachms. 

Castile  Soap       .         .         .         «         .2  drachms. 
Camphor   .         ...         .         .     2  drachms. 

Ginger        .         .         .         .         .         .     1^  drachm. 

Make  into  a  ball  with  Liquorice  powder  and  Treacle,  and  give  every 
hour  while  the  pain  lasts.    It  should  be  kept  in  a  bottle  or  bladder. 

3.  ANODYNE  BALL  (ordinary) — 

Opium       .         .         .         .....  ^  to  1  drachm. 

Castile  Soap       .         .        *        .  ;      .  2  to  4  drachms. 

Ginger 1  to  2  drachms. 

Powdered  Aniseed     .         .        .         .  £  to  1  ounce. 

Oil  of  Caraway  Seeds         .         .         .  \  drachm. 
Syrup  enough  to  form  a  ball,  to  be  dissolved  in  half  a  pint  of  warm  ale, 
and  given  as  a  drench. 

4.  ANODYNE  DRENCH  IN  SUPERPURGATION,  OR  ORDINARY  DIARRHOEA, 

Gum  Arabic       .         .         .  *      .         .2  ounces. 
Boiling  Water    .         .         .         .         .1  pint. 
2P 


450  THE  HORSE. 

Dissolve,  and  then  add— 

Oil  of  Peppermint      .         .         .         .25  drops. 

Laudanum          .         .         .         .         .     £  to  1  ounce. 
Mix,  and  give  night  and  morning,  if  necessary. 

5.  IN  CHRONIC  DIARRHOEA — 

Powdered  Chalk  and  Gum  Arabic,  each  1  ounce. 

Laudanum £  ounce. 

Peppermint  Water      .         .         .         «   10  ounces. 
Mix,  and  give  night  and  morning. 

6.  IN  Cone — 

Spirit  of  Turpentine  .         .         .     3|  ounces. 

Laudanum l£  ounce. 

Barbadoes  Aloes         ..,'..      .         .1  ounce. 

Powder  the  Aloes,  and  dissolve  in  warm  water  ;  then  add  the  other 
ingredients,  and  give  as  a  drench. 

7.  CLYSTER  IN  COLIC — 

Spirit  of  Turpentine          ->',',        .         .     Bounces. 
Aloes         ...  .         .     2  drachms. 

Dissolve  in  3  quarts  of  warm  water,  and  stir  the  turpentine  well  into  it. 

8.  ANTISPASMODIC  DRENCH — 

Gin  .         .         .         .         .         .  4  to  6  ounces. 

Tincture  of  Capsicum         .         .         .2  drachms. 
Laudanum          ,;  ^  .  .         »         .         .3  drachms. 
Warm  Water     .         .         .    '    J.         .     l£  pint. 
Mix,  and  give  as  a  drench,  when  there  is  no  inflammation. 


[ANTISEPTICS. 

ANTISEPTICS  ARE  THOSE  MEDICINES  which  prevent  and  destroy 
putrescence  in  sores  and  ulcers. 

1.  Carbolic  Acid*  .  .         .     1  drachm. 

Oil,  Glycerine,  or  Water    .         .         .2  ounces. 


*  This  substance,  a  product  of  gas  tar,  was  formerly  known  to  the  scien- 
tific world  as  Phenile  or  Phenic  Acid,  but  is  now  generally  known  as  Car- 
bolic Acid.  Its  smell  resembles  that  of  Creosote,  which  is  Carbolic  Acid 
and  a  fixed  oil,  and  is  very  offensive  to  most  persons.  Its  form  is  that  of 
an  acid  solution  though  sometimes  sold  in  crystals.  Its  great  importance 
is  due  to  its  property  of  coagulating  the  albumen  of  the  animal  tissue,  and 
hence  its  value  in  sores,  wounds,  and  ulcers.  It  may  be  applied  with  safety 
to  all  parts  of  the  body  or  legs,  and  is  invaluable  for  destroying  lice,  wood 
ticks,  and  all  forms  of  parasite  life,  and  by  merely  washing  or  moistening 
those  parts  of  the  legs  and  body  of  horses,  cattle,  and  sheep,  and  chosen  by 
the  bot,  horse  or  other  flies  to  deposit  their  eggs,  their  hatching  or  even 
deposit  may  be  prevented. 

As  a  disinfectant  in  stables  and  buildings  affected  with  fevers  and  all 
kinds  of  distempers,  it  was  found  extremely  serviceable  in  England,  in 
checking  the  ravages  of  the  Rinderpest  by  washing  the  floors  and  stalls  ;  and 
adding  a  tablespoonful  of  the  solution  of  the  acid  to  a  bucketful  of  water,  in 
whitewashing  the  walls  and  ceilings. — EDITOR. 


ANTISEPTICS— ANTI-ZUMINS— APERIENTS.  451 

2.  Chloride  of  Zinc         .         .         .         .10  grains. 
Water        ......     2  ounces. 

3.  Sulphate  of  Soda       ....     1  ounce. 
Water 1  pint. 

4.  Charcoal  or  Brewers'  Yeast.] 


[ANTI-ZUMINS. 

A  CLASS  OF  MEDICINES  which  are  now  deemed  indispensable  in 
meeting  certain  pathological  conditions — fermentation  of  the  blood, 
as  exhibited  in  glanders,  farcy,  &c. 

1.  Sulphate  of  Soda       ...         .3  drachms. 
Spanish  Fly       .....     5  grains. 

To  he  given  once  daily. 

2.  Carbolic  Acid 20  grains  or  drops. 

Sulphate  of  Iron,  in  powder       .         .     2  drachms. 
Gentian  Root,  in  powder    .         .         .3  drachms. 

Give  one  powder  daily. 

3.  Inhalation  of  Sulphurous  Acid  Gas,  hy  placing  the  animal  in  a  house 

by  himself,  and  generating  the  gas,  by  placing  1  ounce  of  Roll  Sul- 
phur on  top  of  a  brazier  filled  with  burning  coal,  and  allowing  the 
horse  to  breathe  the  gas  from  twenty  minutes  to  half  an  hour,  two 
or  three  times  in  the  week.] 


APERIENTS. 
(Physic  Balls  and  Drenches.) 

APERIENTS,  or  purges,  are  those  medicines  which  quicken  or 
increase  the  evacuations  from  the  bowels,  varying,  however,  a  good 
deal  in  their  mode  of  operation.  Some  act  merely  by  exciting  the 
muscular  coat  of  the  bowels  to  contract;  others  cause  an  immense 
watery  discharge,  which,  as  it  were,  washes  out  the  bowels;  whilst 
a  third  set  combine  the  action  of  the  two.  The  various  purges 
also  act  upon  different  parts  of  the  canal,  some  stimulating  the 
small  intestines,  whilst  others  pass  through  them  without  affecting 
them,  and  only  act  upon  the  large  bowels;  and  others,  again,  act 
upon  the  whole  canal.  There  is  a  third  point  of  difference  in 
purges,  depending  upon  their  influencing  the  liver  in  addition, 
which  mercurial  purgatives  certainly  do,  as  well  as  rhubarb  and 
some  others,  and  which  effect  is  partly  due  to  their  absorption  into 
the  circulation,  so  that  they  may  be  made  to  act,  by  injecting  into 
the  veins,  as  strongly  as  by  actual  swallowing,  and  their  subse- 
quent passage  into  the  bowels.  Purgatives  are  likewise  classed, 
according  to  the  degree  of  their  effect,  into  laxatives  acting  mildly, 
and  drastic  purges,  or  cathartics,  acting  very  severely. 


452  THE  HORSE. 

1.  ORDINARY  PHYSIC  BALLS — 

Barbadoes  Aloes         .         .         .         .     3  to  8  drachms. 

Hard  Soap          .         .         .         .         .4  drachms. 

Ginger       ......     1  drachm. 

Dissolve  in  as  small  a  quantity  of  boiling  water  as  will  suffice ;  then 
slowly  evaporate  to  the  proper  consistence,  by  which  means  griping  is 
avoided. 

2.  A  WARMER  PHYSIC  BALL — 

Barbadoes  Aloes         .         .  .         .     3  to  8  drachms. 
Carbonate  of  Soda  .     £  drachm. 

Aromatic  Powder       .  .     1  drachm. 

Oil  of  Caraway          .         .  .         .12  drops. 
Dissolve  as  above,  and  then  add  the  oil. 

3.  GENTLY  LAXATIVE  BALL — 

Barbadoes  Aloes         .         .         .         .     3  to  5  drachms. 

Khubarb  Powder        .         .     '    .         .     1  to  2  drachms. 
Ginger      ......     2  drachms. 

Oil  of  Caraway          .         .         .         .15  drops. 

Mix,  and  form  into  a  ball,  as  in  No.  1. 

4.  STOMACHIC  LAXATIVE  BALLS,  FOR.  WASHY  HORSES — 

Barbadoes  Aloes         .         .         .         .     3  drachms. 

Ehubarb 2  drachms. 

Ginger       ......     1  drachm. 

Cascarilla  Powder      .   ?     »r       .         .1  drachm. 
Oil  of  Caraway          .         .--..'.   15  drops. 
Carbonate  of  Soda      .         .         .         .     l£  drachm. 

Dissolve  the  Aloes  as  in  No.  1,  and  then  add  the  other  ingredients. 

5.  PURGING  BALLS,  WITH  CALOMEL — 

Barbadoes  Aloes         .         .         .         .  3  to  6  drachms. 

Calomel     .         .         •         .         .         .  £  to  1  drachm. 

Rhubarb    .         .         «         .         .         .  1  to  2  drachms. 

Ginger £  to  1  drachm. 

Castile  Soap 2  drachms. 

Mix  as  in  No.  1. 

6.  LAXATIVE  DRENCH — 

Barbadoes  Aloes         .         .         .         .  3  to  4  drachms. 

Canella  Alba 1  to  2  drachms. 

Salt  of  Tartar   .         .         .         .         .  1  drachm. 

Mint  Water        .....  8  ounces.     Mix. 

7.  ANOTHER  LAXATIVE  DRENCH — 

Castor  Oil          .  ,      •         ;         •         ..    3  to  6  ounces. 
Barbadoes  Aloes         ...         .     3  to  5  drachms. 
Carbonate  of  Soda     .         .         .         .2  drachms. 
Mint  Water        .         .         .         .         .8  ounces. 
Mix,  by  dissolving  the  Aloes  in  the  Mint  Water  by  the  aid  of  heat,  and 
then  adding  the  other  ingredients. 

8.  A  MILD  OPENING  DRENCH — 

Castor  Oil          .         .  *  .  •  •  4  ounces. 

Epsom  Salts       .  s".«".  •«  .  .  3  to  5  ounces. 

Gruel         .         .         .  *  •    ...  .  2  pints.     Mix. 

9.  A  VERY  MILD  LAXATIVE — 

Castor  Oil 4  ounces. 

Linseed  Oil        .    '     .         .         .         .4  ounces. 
Warm  Water  or  Gruel       .         .         .1  pint.     Mix. 


APERIENTS— ASTRINGENTS.  453 

10.  USED  IN  THE  STAGGERS — 

Barbadoes  Aloes  .  ;         «  .     4  to  6  drachms 

Common  Salt     .  .  .         .  .6  ounces. 

Flour  of  Mustard  .  .    /   .  .     1  ounce. 

Water        .         .  .  ...  .2  pints.     Mix. 

11.  A  GENTLY  COOLING  DRENCH  IN  SLIGHT  ATTACKS  OF  COLD — 

Epsom  Salts      .         .         .         .         .     6  to  8  ounces. 
Whey        .         .      ,  .         .      .•.*;.      .     2  pints.     Mix. 

12.  PURGATIVE  CLYSTER — 

Common  Salt 4  to  8  ounces. 

Warm  Water 8  to  16  pints. 


ASTRINGENTS. 
(For  Diarrhoea  and  Dysentery.) 

ASTRINGENTS  appear  to  produce  contraction  on  all  living  ani- 
mal tissues  with  which  they  come  in  contact,  whether  in  the 
interior  or  on  the  exterior  of  the  body ;  and  whether  immediately 
applied  or  by  absorption  into  the  circulation.  But  great  doubt 
exists  as  to  the  exact  mode  in  which  they  act;  and,  as  in  many 
other  cases,  we  are  obliged  to  content  ourselves  with  their  effects, 
and  to  prescribe  them  empirically.  They  are  divided  into  astrin- 
gents administered  by  the  mouth,  and  those  applied  locally  to 
external  ulcerated  or  wounded  surfaces. 

1.  FOR  BLOODY  URINE — 

Powdered  Catechu     .         .         ,         .     J  ounce. 
Alum         ......     £  ounce. 

Cascarilla  Bark  in  powder          .         .     1  to  2  drachms. 
Liquorice  Powder  and  Treacle  enough  to  form  a  ball,  to  be  given  twice 

a  day. 

2.  FOR  DIABETES — 

Opium £  drachm. 

Ginger  powdered        .         •         .         .2  drachms. 
Oak  Bark  powdered  .         ...     1  ounce. 
Alum,  as  much  as  the  tea  will  dissolve. 
Chamomile  Tea          .    .     ,         ».         .     1  pint. 
Mix  for  a  drench. 

3.  EXTERNAL  ASTRINGENT  POWDERS  FOR  ULCERATED  SURFACES — 

Powdered  Alum          ,    .    .     ..=;  »         .4  ounces. 
Armenian  Bole          .      ...,»    .     i      .  »     1  ounce. 

4.  White  Vitriol 4  ounces. 

Oxide  of  Zinc  «  : .   v       .      .  •         .     1  ounce.     Mix. 

5.  ASTRINGENT  LOTION — 

Goulard  Extract  •        •;      •  .  2  to  3  drachms. 

Water        .         ;  .   .      .r       ^  .  £  pint. 

6.  Sulphate  of  Copper  .  = ,  t  . '   •    .  .  1  to  2  drachms. 
Water        .         .  .         ...  .  £  pint.     Mix. 


454  THE  HORSE. 

7.  ASTRINGENT  OINTMENT  FOR  SORE  HEELS — 

Acetate  of  Lead          .         .         ;         .     1  drachm. 
Lard  ......     1  ounce.     Mix. 

8.  ANOTHER  FOR  THE  SAME — 

Nitrate  of  Silver  powdered          .         .  £  drachm. 

Goulard  Extract         .         .         .         .  1  drachm. 

Lard  ......  1  ounce. 

Mix,  and  use  a  very  small  portion  every  night. 


-  BLISTERS. 

BLISTERS  are  applications  which  inflame  the  skin,  and  produce 
a  secretion  of  serum  between  the  cutis  and  cuticle,  by  which  the 
latter  is  raised  in  the  form  of  small  bladders;  but  in  consequence 
of  the  presence  of  the  hair,  these  are  very  imperfectly  seen  in  the 
horse.  They  consist  of  two  kinds  —  one,  used  for  the  sake  of  coun- 
ter-irritation, by  which  the  original  disease  is  lessened,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  establishment  of  this  irritation  at  a  short  distance 
from  it  ;  the  other,  commonly  called  "  sweating"  in  veterinary  sur- 
gery, by  which  a  discharge  is  obtained  from  the  vessels  of  the  part 
itself,  which  are  in  that  way  relieved  and  unloaded.  There  is  also 
a  subsequent  process  of  absorption  in  consequence  of  the  peculiar 
stimulus  applied. 


1.  MILD  BLISTER  OINTMENT  (COUNTER-IRRITANT)  — 

Hog's  Lard        .         .         .         .         .4  ounces. 
Venice  Turpentine     .         •       ,  ,".".      .     1  ounce. 
Powdered  Cantharides         .         .         .6  drachms. 
Mix,  and  spread. 

2.  STRONGER  BLISTER  OINTMENT  (COUNTER-IRRITANT)  — 

Spirit  of  Turpentine  .         ...     1  ounce. 

Sulphuric  Acid,  by  measure        .         .     2  drachms. 
Mix  carefully  in  an  open  place,  and  add  — 

Hog's  Lard        .         .         .         .         .4  ounces. 

Powdered  Cantharides         ...         .1  ounce. 
Mix,  and  spread. 

3.  VERY  STRONG  BLISTER  (COUNTER-IRRITANT)  — 

Strong  Mercurial  Ointment         .  .  4  ounces. 

Oil  of  Origanum         .         .     •  •.  i  >  -  .  £  ounce. 

Finely-powdered  Euphorbium     .  .  3  drachms. 

Powdered  Cantharides        .         .  .  £  ounce. 
Mix.  and  spread. 

4.  RAPIDLY  ACTING  BLISTER  (COUNTER-IRRITANT)  — 

Best  Flour  of  Mustard       .         .         .8  ounces. 
Made  into  a  paste  with  water  ;  then  add  — 

Oil  of  Turpentine      I         1"  '  '".'       .     2  ounces. 

Strong  Liquor  of  Ammonia        .         .     1  ounce. 

This  is  to  be  well  rubbed  into  the  chest,  belly,  or  back,  in  cases  of 
acute  inflammation. 


BLISTERS— CAUSTICS,  OR  CAUTERIES.  455 

5.  SWEATING  BLISTER — 

Strong  Mercurial  Ointment         .         .     2  ounces. 
Oil  of  Origanum         ....     2  drachms. 
Corrosive  Sublimate  .         .         .2  drachms. 

Cantharides  powdered         .         .         .3  drachms. 
Mix,  and  rub  in  with  the  hand. 

6.  STRONG  SWEATING  BLISTER,  FOR  SPLINTS,  KING-BONES,  SPAVINS, 

&c.— 

Biniodide  of  Mercury         .         .         .     1  to  l£  drachm. 
Lard  .         .         .         .         •         •     1  ounce. 

To  be  well  rubbed  into  the  legs,  after  cutting  the  hair  short ;  and  followed 
by  the  daily  use  of  Arnica,  in  the  shape  of  a  wash,  as  follows,  which  is  to 
be  painted  on  with  a  brush  : — 

Tincture  of  Arnica     ....     1  ounce. 
Water        .         .         .         •         .          .  12  to  15  ounces. 

Mix. 

7.  LIQUID  SWEATING  BLISTERS — 

Cantharides        .         .         .         .         -1  ounce. 
Spirit  of-Turpentine  .         .         .2  ounces. 

Methylated  Spirit  of  Wine          .         .     1  pint. 
Mix,  and  digest  for  a  fortnight ;  then  strain. 

8.  Powdered  Cantharides         .         .         .1  ounce. 
Commercial  Pyroligneous  Acid  .     1  pint. 

Mix,  and  digest  for  a  fortnight ;  then  strain. 


CAUSTICS,  OR  CAUTERIES. 
(  To  destroy  Proud  Flesh  in  Wounds.) 

CAUSTICS  are  substances  which  burn  away  the  living  tissues  of 
the  body,  by  the  decomposition  of  their  elements.  They  are  of 
two  kinds,  viz. :  First,  the  actual  cautery,  consisting  in  the  appli- 
cation of  the  burning  iron,  and  called  firing;  and,  secondly,  the 
potential  cautery,  by  means  of  the  powers  of  mineral  caustics,  such 
as  potassa  fusa,  lunar  caustic,  corrosive  sublimate,  &c. 

FIRING  is  described  in  the  chapter  on  Operations,  at  page  438. 

The  following  are  the  ordinary  chemical  applications  used  as 
potential  cauteries : — 

1.  FUSED  POTASS,   difficult  to  manage,  because  it  runs  about  in  all 

directions,  and  little  used  in  veterinary  medicine. 

2.  LUNAR  CAUSTIC,  or  Nitrate  of  Silver,  very  valuable  to  the  veterinary 

surgeon,  and  constantly  used  to  apply  to  profuse  granulations. 

3.  SULPHATE  OF  COPPER,  almost  equally  useful,  but  not  so  strong  as 

Lunar  Caustic.  It  may  be  well  rubbed  into  all  high  granulations, 
as  in  broken  knees,  and  similar  growths. 

4.  CORROSIVE   SUBLIMATE  in  powder,  which   acts  most  energetically 

upon  warty  growths,  but  should  be  used  with  great  care  and  dis- 
cretion. It  may  safely  be  applied  to  small  surfaces,  but  not  with- 
out a  regular  practitioner  to  large  ones.  It  should  be  washed  off 


456  THE  HORSE. 

after  remaining  on  a  few  minutes.     For  the  mode  of  applying  it  in 
castration,  see  page  442. 

5.  YELLOW  ORPIMENT  is  not  so  strong  as  Corrosive  Sublimate,  and  may 

be   used   with   more   freedom.     It   will   generally   remove  warty 
growths,  by  picking  off  their  heads  and  rubbing  it  in. 

6.  MURIATE  OF  ANTIMONY,  called  Butter  of  Antimony  ;  a  strong  but 

rather  unmanageable  caustic,  and  used  either  by  itself  or  mixed 
with  more  or  less  water. 

7.  CHLORIDE  OF  ZINC  is  a  most  powerful  caustic.     It  may  be  used  in 

old  sinuses  in  solution — 7  drachms  in  a  pint  of  water. 

MILDER  CAUSTICS  : — 

8.  Verdigris,  either  in  powder  or  mixed  with  Lard  as  an  ointment,  in 

the  proportion  of  1  to  3. 

9.  Red  Precipitate,  ditto,  ditto. 

10.  Burnt  Alum,  used  dry. 

11.  Powdered  White  Sugar. 

MILD  LIQUID  CAUSTICS  : — 

12.  Solution  of  Nitrate  of  Silver    5  to  15  grains  to  the  ounce  of  dis- 

tilled water. 

13.  Solution  of  Blue  Vitriol,  of  about  double  the  above  strength. 

14.  Chloride  of  Zinc,  1  to  3  grains  to  the  ounce  of  water. 


CLYSTERS,  OR  INJECTIONS. 

CLYSTERS  are  intended  either  to  relieve  obstruction  or  spasm  of 
the  bowels,  and  are  of  great  service  when  properly  applied.  They 
may  be  made  of  warm  water  or  gruel,  of  which  some  quarts  will  be 
required  in  colic.  They  should  be  thrown  up  with  the  proper 
syringe,  provided  with  valves  and  a  flexible  tube. 

ANODYNE  CLYSTER  IN  DIARRHCEA — 

Starch,  made  as  for  washing       .         .     1  quart. 

Powdered  Opium        .         .         .         .2  drachms. 
The  Opium  is  to  be  boiled  in  water,  and  added  to  the  Starch. 


[DETERGENTS 

ARE  THOSE  AGENTS  which  possess  the  property  of  cleansing  ulcers, 
wounds,  and  sores,  inducing  in  them  a  healthy  action. 

1.  Solution  of  the  Sulphate  of  Zinc. 

2.  Sulphate  of  Copper    .         .         .         .1  ounce. 
Water        .         .         .         .         .         .     1  pint. 

3.  Acid  Nitrate  of  Mercury  of  the  drug-shops. 

4.  Carbolic  Acid 1  drachm. 

Water 2  ounces.] 


DIURETICS— EMBROCATIONS.  457 

DIURETICS. 

(To  increase  the  Flow  of  Urine.) 

DIURETICS  are  medicines  which  promote  the  secretion  and  dis- 
charge of  urine,  the  effect  being  produced  in  a  different  manner  by 
different  medicines;  some  acting  directly  upon  the  kidneys  by 
sympathy  with  the  stomach,  while  others  are  taken  up  by  the 
blood-vessels,  and  in  their  elimination  from  the  blood  cause  an 
extra  secretion  of  the  urine.  In  either  case  their  effect  is  to 
diminish  the  watery  part  of  the  blood,  and  thus  promote  the  absorp- 
tion of  fluid  effused  into  any  of  the  cavities,  or  into  the  cellular 
membrane  in  the  various  forms  of  dropsy. 

1.  STIMULATING  DIURETIC  BALL — 

Powdered  Resin  ...  .3  drachms. 

Sal  Prunelle      .  .         .         .  .3  drachms. 

Castile  Soap       .  .         .         .  .3  drachms. 

Oil  of  Juniper    .  .         .         .  .1  drachm.     Mix. 

2.  A  MORE  COOLING  DIURETIC  BALL — 

Powdered  Nitre  .         .         .         .  £  to  1  ounce. 

Camphor   ......  1  drachm. 

Juniper  berries  .....  1  drachm. 

Soap  ......  3  drachms. 

Mix,  adding  linseed  meal  enough  to  form  a  ball. 

3.  DIURETIC  POWDER  FOR  A  MASH — 

Nitre          .         .         .         .         .         .     £  to  f  ounce. 

Resin         .         .         .         .         .         .     £  to  f  ounce.  Mix. 

4.  ANOTHER  MORE  ACTIVE  POWDER — 

Nitre          ......     6  drachms. 

Camphor   ......     1^  drachm.     Mix. 


EMBROCATIONS,  OR  LINIMENTS. 

EMBROCATIONS,  OR  LINIMENTS,  are  stimulating  or  sedative 
external  applications,  intended  to  reduce  the  pain  and  inflamma- 
tion of  internal  parts  when  rubbed  into  the  skin  with  the  hand. 

1.  MUSTARD  EMBROCATION — 

Best  Flour  of  Mustard  .  .  ,6  ounces. 
Liquor  of  Ammonia  ....  l£  ounce. 
Oil  of  Turpentine  .  .  .  l|  ounce. 

Mix  with  sufficient  water  to  form  a  thin  paste. 

2.  STIMULATING  EMBROCATION — 

Camphor   ......  £  ounce. 

Oil  of  Turpentine       .         .         .  l£  ounce. 

Spirit  of  Wine ij  ounce.     Mix. 

39 


458  THE  HORSE.  ' 

3.  SWEATING  EMBROCATION  FOR  WINDGALLS,  &c.-- 

Strong  Mercurial  Ointment         .         .  2  ounces. 

Camphor  '•.         .         .         .         .  Bounce. 

Oil  of  Rosemary        .          ...  2  drachms. 

Oil  of  Turpentine      .          ...  1  ounce.     Mix. 

4.  ANOTHER,  BUT  STRONGER — 

Strong  Mercurial  Ointment         .          .  2  ounces. 

Oil  of  Bay         .....  1  ounce. 

Oil  of  Origanum         .  .  £  ounce. 

Powdered  Cantharides        .         .         .  |  ounce.     Mix. 

5.  A  MOST  ACTIVE  SWEATING  EMBROCATION — 

Bin  iodide  of  Mercury         v        .         .  £  to  1  drachm. 
Powdered  Arnica  Leaves    .         .         .1  drachm. 

Soap  Liniment  .         .         .     __;•..     '   .  2  ounces.     Mix. 


FEBRIFUGES 

(F&ver  Balls  and  Powders) } 

GENERALLY  CALLED  fever  medicines,  are  given  to  allay  the  arte- 
rial and  nervous  excitements  which  accompany  febrile  action. 
They  do  this  partly  by  their  agency  on  the  heart  and  arteries 
through  the  nervous  system,  and  partly  by  increasing  the  secre- 
tions of  the  skin  and  kidneys. 

1.  FEVER  BALL — 

Nitre  .         .         .         .         .4  drachms. 

Camphor   .          .         .         .          .  l£  drachm. 

Calomel  and  Opium,  of  each       .         .     1  scruple. 

Linseed  meal  and  water  enough  to  form  a  ball.  Or, 

2.  Emetic  Tartar   .         .         .         .         .     U  to  2  drachms. 
Compound  Powder  of  Tragacanth      .     2  drachms. 

Linseed  meal  as  above.     Or, 

3.  Nitre .3  drachms. 

Camphor 2  drachms. 

Mix  as  above. 

4.  COOLING  POWDER  FOR  MASH — 

Nitre          .         .        .         .        .         .6  drs.  to  1  ounce. 

May  be  given  in  a  bran  mash. 

5.  COOLING  DRENCH — 

Nitre          .         .         .         .  .  .     1  ounce. 

Sweet  Spirit  of  Nitre  .     .  '   *  .2  ounces. 

Tincture  of  Digitalis  .,f.-  .  .     2  drachms. 

Whey         .         .         .         :.  .  .     1  pint. 

6.  [Tincture  of  Aconite  Root  .         *         .   15  drops. 

Extract  of  Belladona          .         .         .2  drachms. 
To  be  repeated,  if  necessary,  three  times  daily.] 


INJECTIONS.     (See  CLYSTERS.) 


LOTIONS-STIMULANTS.  459 


LOTIONS,  OR  WASHES 

CONSIST  in  liquids  applied  to  the  external  parts,  either  to  cool 
them  or  to  produce  a  healthy  action  in  the  vessels. 

1.  COOLING  SOLUTION  FOR  EXTERNAL  INFLAMMATION — 

Goulard  Extract         .  .        ...  1  ounce. 

Vinegar     .         .         .  ...         •  2  ounces. 

Spirits  of  Wine,  or  Gin  V      .         .  3  ounces. 

Water        .         .         .  ......  Ij  pint. 

Mix,  and  apply  with  a  calico  bandage. 

2.  ANOTHER,  USEFUL  FOR  INFLAMED  LEGS,  OR  FOR  GALLED  SHOUL- 

DERS OR  BACK — 

Sal  Ammoniac  .  .         .  . .  •."  .     1  ounce. 

Vinegar     .         .  .         .  .  .4  ounces. 

Spirits  of  Wine  .         .  .  .2  ounces. 

Tincture  of  Arnica  ...  .  .2  drachms. 

Water        .         .  .         ;  *   .  .     \  pint.     Mix. 

3.  LOTION  FOR  FOUL  ULCERS — 

Sulphate  of  Copper    ....  1  ounce. 

Nitric  Acid \  ounce. 

Water        .         .         .  .         .  8  to  12  ounces. 

Mix. 

4.  LOTION  FOE  THE  EYES — 

Sulphate  of  Zinc        .         .         .         .     20  to  25  grains. 
Water        ......     6  ounces.     Mix. 

5.  VERT  STRONG  ONE,  AND  ONLY  TO  BE  DROPPED  IN — 

Nitrate  of  Silver         .         .         ...     5  to  8  grains. 
Distilled  Water  .  .         .     1  ounce. 

Mix,  and  use  with  a  camel-hair  brush. 


PHYSIC  BALLS  AND  DRENCHES.     (See  APERIENTS.) 


STIMULANTS. 

BY  THIS  TERM  is  understood  those  substances  which  excite  the 
action  of  the  whole  nervous  and  vascular  systems.  Almost  all 
medicines  are  stimulants  to  some  part  or  other,  as,  for  instance, 
aperients,  which  stimulate  the  lining  of  the  bowels,  but  to  the 
general  system  are  lowering.  On  the  other  hand,  stimulants,  so 
called  par  excellence,  excite  and  raise  the  action  of  the  brain  and 
heart. 

Old  Ale     .         .         .  ...     1  quart. 

Carbonate  of  Ammonia  .         .  £  to  2  drachms. 

Tincture  of  Ginger     .  .        .         .4  drachms. 

Mix,  and  give  as  a  drench. 


460  THE  HORSE. 


STOMACHICS. 

STOMACHICS  are  medicines  given  to  improve  the  tone  of  the 
stomach  when  impaired  by  bad  management  or  disease. 

1.  STOMACH  BALL — 

Powdered  Gentian  .     £  ounce. 

Powdered  Ginger        .         .         .         •     H  drachm. 
Carbonate  of  Soda     ....     1  drachm. 
Treacle  to  form  a  ball.     Or, 

2.  Cascarilla,  powdered           .         .         .1  ounce. 
Myrrh        .         ,         .      ;  V         .  lj  drachm. 
Castile  Soap 1  drachm. 

%  Mix,  with  syrup  or  treacle,  into  a  ball.     Or, 

3.  Powdered  Colombo     .         .         .         .     £  to  1  ounce. 
Powdered  Cassia         ...         .1  drachrn. 
Powdered  Rhubarb     ....     2  drachms. 

Mix  as  in  No.  2. 


TONICS 

AUGMENT  the  vigor  of  the  whole  body  permanently,  while  stimu- 
lants only  act  for  a  short  time.  They  are  chiefly  useful  after  low 
fever. 

1.  TONIC  BALL— 

Sulphate  of  Iron  .     \  ounce. 

Extract  of  Camomile          .         .         .1  ounce. 
Mix,  and  form  into  a  ball.     Or, 

2.  Arsenic     .         .         .         .         .         .10  grains. 

Ginger       ......     1  drachm. 

Powdered  Aniseed      .         .         .         .     1  ounce. 

Compound  Powder  of  Tragacanth       .     2  drachms. 

Syrup  enough  to  form  a  ball.     It  is  a  very  powerful  Ionic. 


[TRAUMATICS 

ARE   THOSE    MEDICINES   which   excite   the   healing   process   in 
wounds,  ulcers,  or  sores. 

1.  Carbolic  Acid    .    '    •':'      ,         .         .1  drachm. 
Water        .     -.        •» '-    .   •      .         .     2  ounces. 

2.  Tincture  Aloes  and  Myrrh. 

3.  Chloride  of  Zinc         ....     5  grains. 
Water        \        •        ,«       .  •  •     Bounce. 

4.  Yeast  and  Charcoal.] 


VERMIFUGES— LIST  OF  IMPORTED  HORSES.  461 


VERMIFUGES,  OR  WORM  MEDICINES. 

THEIR  ACTION  is  partly  by  producing  a  disagreeable  or  fatal 
impression  on  the  worm  itself,  and  partly  by  irritating  the  mucous 
lining  of  the  bowels,  and  thus  causing  them  to  expel  their  con- 
tents. Failing  the  remedy  recommended  at  page  368,  the  follow- 
ing may  be  useful : — 

1.  WORM  BALL  (recommended  by  Mr.  GAMGEE) — 

Asafoetida  .         .         .         .         .2  drachms. 

Calomel    .         .         .         .         .         .     H  drachm. 

Powdered  Savin          .         .         .         .     l£  drachm. 

Oil  of  Male  Fern       .         .         .         .30  drops. 

Treacle  enough  to  make  a  ball ,  which  should  be  given  at  night,  and  fol- 
lowed by  a  purge  next  morning. 

2.  MILD  DRENCH  FOR  WORMS — 

Linseed  Oil         .         .  .         .1  pint. 

Spirit  of  Turpentine  .  .     2  drachms. 

Mix,  and  give  every  morning. 

3.  [Tincture  Nux  Vomica        .         .         .15  drops. 
Give  three  times  daily  for  two  or  three  days.] 


CHAPTER   XXIX. 
LIST   OF   IMPORTED    HORSES. 

IN  ORDER  TO  SHOW  how  largely  the  Americans  are  indebted  to 
English  blood,  I  here  insert  the  following  list  of  horses  imported 
by  them  from  England,  with  the  date  of  foaling  of  each,  for 
which  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Herbert : — * 

Abjer,  1817,  by  Old  Truffle — Briseis  by  Beninborough. 

Actaeon,  1837,  by  Comus  or  Blacklock — Panthea. 

Admiral,  1799,  by  Florizel — Spectator  mare. 

Admiral  Nelson,  1795,  by  John  Bull — Olivia. 

Ainderby,  1832,  by  Velociped — Kate. 

Alderman,  1778,  by  PotSos — Lady  Bolingbroke. 

Alexander,  by  Alexander,  son  of  Eclipse  ;  dam's  pedigree  unknown. 

Alexander,  1791,  by  Champion — Countess. 

All-Fours,  1772,  by  All-Fours — Blank  mare. 

Ambassador,  by  Emilius — Trapes  by  Tramp. 

Americus,  1755,  by  Babraham — Creeping  Molly. 

Amurath,  1832,  by  Langar — Armida. 

Apparition,  1827,  by  Spectre — Young  Cranberry. 

Archduke,  1796,  by  Sir  Peter  Teazle — Horatia,  by  Eclipse. 

Archer,  1760,  by  Faggergill — Eclipse  mare. 

Archibald,  1801*,  by  Walnut — Bay  Javelin. 

Arrakooker,  1789,  by  Drone — Camilla. 

*  From  his  last  and  crowning  work,  "The  Horse  and  Horsemanship  of 
the  United  States  and  British  Provinces  of  North  America,"  by  kind  per- 
mission of  the  publishers,  Messrs.  W.  A.  Townsend  &  Adams. — EDITOR. 
39* 


462  THE  HORSE. 

Autocrat,  1822,  by  Grand  Duke — Olivetta. 

Bachelor,  1753,  by  Blaze — Smiling  Tom  mare. 

Barefoot,  1820,  by  Tramp — Kosamond. 

Baronet,  1782,  by  Vertumnus — Penultiraa. 

Bay  Richmond,  1*769,  by  Feather — Matron. 

Bedford,  1792,  by  Dungannon — Fairy. 

Belshazzar,  1830,  by  Blacklock — Manuella. 

Bergamot,  1788,  Highflyer — Orange  Girl. 

Berner's  Comus,  1827,  by  Comus — Rotterdam. 

Black  Prince,  1760,  by  Babraham — Riot. 

Blossom,  1795,  by  Bordeaux — Highflyer  mare. 

Boaster,  1795,  by  Dungannon — Justice  mare. 

Bolton,  1752,  by  Shark — Partner  mare. 

Brilliant,  1691,  by  Phenomenon — Faith. 

Brian  O'Lynn,  1756,  by  Aston — Le  Sang  mare. 

Brutus,  1748,  by  Regulus — Miss  Layton. 

Buffcoat,  1742, 'by  Godolphin  Arab— Silverlocks. 

Buzzard,  1787,  by  Woodpecker — Misfortune. 

Cnmel,  1822,  by  Whalebone — Selim  mare. 

Cannon,  1789,  by  Dungannon — Miss  Spindleshanks. 

Cardinal  Puff,  1803,  by  Cardinal— Luna. 

Celer,  1774,  by  Old  Ja'nus— Brandon. 

Centinel,  1758,  by  Blank — Naylor,  by  Cade. 

Cetus,  1827,  by  Whalebone — Lamia. 

Chance,  1787, 'by  Lurcher— Recovery. 

Chariot,  1789,  by  Highflyer — Potosi,  by  Eclipse. 

Chateau  Margaux,  1822,' by  Whalebone — Wasp. 

Citizen,  1785,  by  Pacolet— Princess. 

Claret,  1850,  by  Chateau  Margaux — Partisan  mare. 

Clifden,  1797,  by  Alfred — Florizel  mare. 

Clifton,  1797,  by  Abbe  Thulle — Eustatia,  by  Highflyer. 

Clockfast,  1774,  by  Gimcrack — Miss  Ingram. 

Ciown,  1785,  by  Bordeaux — Eclipse  mare. 

Coeur  de  Lion,  1789,  by  Highflyer — Dido. 

Commodore,  1820,  by  Caleb  Quot'em — Mary  Brown. 

Consol,  1828,  by  Lottery — Cerberus  mare. 

Consternation,  1841,  by  Confederate — Curiosity. 

Contract,  1823,  by  Catton — Helen. 

Cormorant,  1787,  by  Woodpecker — Nettletop. 

Coronet,  1828,  by  Catton — Paynator  mare. 

Crab,  1736,  by  Crab— Councillor  mare. 

Crawler,  1792,  by  Highflyer — Harriet. 

Creeper,  1786,  by  Tandem — Crawler's  dam. 

Cub,  1739,  by  Old  Fox— Warlock  Galloway. 

Cynthius,  1799,  by  Acacia — Yarico. 

Dancingmaster,  1787,  by  Woodpecker — Madcap. 

Dare  Devil,  1787,  by  Magnet — Hebe. 

David,  1756,  by  Gower  Stallion — Fox  Cub  mare. 

De  Bash,  1792,  by  King  Fergus — Highflyer  mare. 

Denizen,  1836,  by  Actaeon — Design. 

Derby,  1831,  by  Peter  Lely — Urganda. 

Diomed,  1777,  by  Florizel — Spectator  mare. 

Dion,  1795,  by  Spadille— Faith. 

Doncaster,  1834,  by  Longwaist — Muley  mare. 

Don  John,  1835,  by  Tmmp  or  Waverley — Sharpset's  dam. 

Don  Quixote,  1784,  by  Eclipse— Grecian  Princess. 


LIST  OF  IMPORTED  HORSES.  403 

Dormouse,  1753,  by  Dormouse — Diana,  by  Whitefbot. 

Dragon,  1787,  by  Woodpecker — Juno. 

Briver,  1784,  by  Driver — Dorimont  mare. 

Drone,  1778,  by  Herod — Lily. 

Druid,  1790,  by  PotSos — Maid  of  the  Oaks. 

Dungannon,  1793,  by  Dungannon — Miss  Spindleshanks. 

Eagle,  1796,  by  Volunteer — Highflyer  mare. 

Eastham,  1818,  by  Sir  Oliver — Cowslip. 

Eclipse,  1778,  by  Eclipse —Phoebe. 

Emancipation,  1827,  by  Whisker — Ardrossan  mare. 

Emilius  Colt,  1836,  by  Bourbon — Fleur  de  Lis. 

Emu,  1832,  by  Picton — Cuirass. 

Englishman,  1812,  by  Eagle — PotSos  mare. 

Envoy,  1827,  by  Comus — Aline. 

Escape,  1798,  by  Precipitate — Woodpecker  mare. 

Espersykes,  1837,  by  Belshazzar — Capsicum  mare. 

Eugenius,  1770,  by  Chrysolite — Mixbury. 

Expedition,  1795, "by  Pegasus — Active. 

Express,  1785,  by  Postmaster — Syphon  mare, 

Exton,  1785,  by  Highflyer— lo. 

Fairfax  Roan,  1764,  by  Adolphus — Tartar  mare. 

Fearnought,  1755,  by  Regulus — Silvertail. 

Fallower,  1761,  by  Blank — Partner  mare. 

Fellow,  1755,  by  Cade— Goliah  mare. 

Felt,  1826,  Langar — Steam. 

Figaro,  1731,  by  Figaro — Catton  mare. 

Figure,  1747,  by  Standard — Beaufort  Arabian  mare. 

Firebrand,  1802,  by  Braggart — Fanny. 

Firetail,  1795,  by  Phenomenon — Columbine. 

Flatterer,  1830,  by  Muley— Clare. 

Flexible,  1822,  by  Whalebone— Themis. 

Flimnap,  1765,  by  South — Cygnet  mare. 

Florizel,  by  Florizel — Alfred  mare. 

Fop,  1832,  by  Stumps — Fitzjames  mare. 

Frederick,  1810,  by  Selim — Englishman's  dam. 

Friar,  1759,  by  South — Sister  to  Lowther  Babraham,  by  Babraham. 

Fylde,  1824,  by  Antonio — Fadladinada. 

Gabriel,  1790,  by  Dorimont — Highflyer  mare. 

Genius,  1753,  by  Babraham — Aura. 

Gift,  1768,  by  Cadormus — Old  Cub  mare. 

Glencoe,  1831,  by  Sultan — Trampoline,  by  Tramp. 

Gouty,  1796,  by  Sir  Peter  Teazle — Tandem  mare. 

Granby,  1759,  by  Blank — Old  Crab  mare. 

Grecian,  1821  (Brother  to  Alasco),  by  Clavalino — Pioneer  mare. 

Grey  Highlander,  1787,  by  Bordeaux — Teetotum  mare. 

Greyhound,  1796,  by  Sweetbriar — Miss  Green,  by  Highflyer. 

Hambleton,  1791,  by  Dungannon — Snap  mare. 

Hamilton,  1793,  by  son  of  Highflyer — Eclipse  mare. 

Hector,  1745,  by  Lath — Childers  mare. 

Hedgeford,  1826,  by  Filho-da-Puta — Miss  Craigie. 

Hark  Forward,  1840  (brother  to  Harkaway),  by  Economist — Naboc- 

lish  mare. 

Hibiscus,  1834,  by  Sultan — Duchess  of  York. 
Highflyer,  1782,  by  Highflyer — Angelica. 
Honest  John,  1794,  by  Sir  Peter  Teazle — Magnet. 
Hugh  Lupus,  1836,  by  Priam — Her  Highness. 


464  THE. HORSE. 

Humphrey  Clinker,  1822,  by  Comus — Clinkerina. 

Invalid,  1822,  by  Whisker — Hamilton  mare. 

Jack  Andrews,  1794,  by  Joe  Andrews — Highflyer  mare. 

Jack  the  Bachelor,  1753,  by  Blaze — Gallant  mare. 

James,  1746,  by  Old  James — Little  Hartley  mare. 

John  Bull,  1799,  by  Fortitude — Xantippe. 

John  Bull,  1833,  by  Chateau  Margaux — Woful  mare. 

Jolly  Roger,  1741,  by  Roundhead— Partner  mare. 

Jonah,  1795,  by  Escape — Lavender  mare. 

Jordan,  1833,  by  Langar — Matilda. 

Julius  Caesar,  1757,  by  Young  Cade — Snip  mare. 

Juniper,  1782,  by  Babraham — Aura. 

Junius,  1752,  by  Starling  Crab — Monkey  mare. 

Justice,  1782,  by  Justice — Curiosity. 

Justice,  1759,  by  Blank — Aura,  by  Stamford  Turk. 

King  William,  1777,  by  Herod— Madcap. 

King  William,  1781,  by  Florizel— Milliner. 

Knowsley,  1795,  by  Sir  Peter  Teazle — Cupella,  by  Herod. 

Kouli  Khan,  1772,  by  The  Vernon  Arab — Rosemary. 

Lancelot,  1837,  by  Camel. 

Langar  colt,  by  Langar — Malvina. 

Langford,  1853,  by  Starch— Peri. 

Lapdog,  1823,  by  Whalebone — Canopus  mare. 

Lath,  1763,  by  Shepherd's  Crab— Lath  mare. 

Leopard,  by  Liverpool — Sneaker,  by  Camel. 

Leviathan,  1823,  by  Muley — Windle  mare. 

Lofty,  1753,  by  Godolphin  Arab — Croft's  Partner  mare. 

Ludford,  1832,  by  Wamba — Idalia. 

Lurcher,  1832.  by  Greyleg — Harpalice,  by  Gohanna. 

Luzborough,  1820,  by  Williamson's  Luzborough — Dick  Andrews  mare. 

Lycurgus,  1767,  by  Blank — Snip  mare. 

Magic,  1794,  by  Volunteer — Marcella. 

Magnum  Bonum,  1774,  by  Matchem — Snip  mare. 

Manfred,  1796,  by  Woodpecker — Mercury  mare. 

Mark  Antony,  1767,  by  Spectator — Rachel. 

Margrave,  1829,  by  Maley — Election. 

Marmion,  by  Whiskey — Young  Noisette. 

Marplot,  by  Highflyer — Omar  mare. 

Master  Robert,  1793,  by  Star — Young  Marske  mare. 

Matchem,  1773,  by  Matchem — Lady. 

Matchless,  1754,  by  Godolphin  Arab — Soreheels. 

Medley,  1776,  by  Gimcrack — Arminda,  by  Snap. 

Mendoza,  1778,  by  Javelin — Pomona. 

Merman,  1835,  by  Whalebone — Orville  mare. 

Merryfield,  1808,  by  Cockfighter— Star  mare. 

Messenger,  1778,  by  Mambrino — Turf  mare. 

Meux,  1816,  by  Chorus — Diana. 

Mexican,  1775,  by  Snap — Matchem  mare. 

Moloch,  by  Muley  Moloch — Sister  to  Puss. 

Monarch,  1834,  by  Priam — Delpini  mai-e. 

Monkey,  1825,  by  Lonsdale  Bay  Arab — Curwen's  Bay  Barb  mare. 

Mordecai,  1833,  by  Lottery — Miss  Thomasina. 

Moro,  by  Starling — Brown  Slipby. 

Morven,  1836,  by  Rowton — Nanine,  by  Selim. 

Moscow,  1746,  by  Cullen  Arab— Croft's  Starling  mare. 

Mousetrap,  by  Careless — Regulus  mare. 


LIST  OF  IMPORTED  HORSES.  465 

Mufti,  1783,  by  Fitz  Herod — Infant  mare. 

Nicholas,  1833,  by  St.  Nicholas — Moss  Hose. 

Non  Plus,  18:44,  by  Catton — Miss  Garforth,  by  Walton. 

North  Star,  1768,  by  Matchem — Lass  of  the  Mill. 

Northumberland,  by  Old  Bustard — Old  Crab  mare. 

Onus,  1835,  by  Camel — The  Etching,  by  Rubens. 

Oroonoko,  1745.  by  Old  Crab — Miss  Slamerkin. 

Oscar,  1795,  by  Saltram — Highflyer  mare. 

Othello,  1743,  by  Crab — Miss  Slamerkin. 

Pain,  1757,  by  Regulus — Cade  mare. 

Pantaloon,  1778,  by  Herod — Nutcracker. 

Partner,  1760,  by  Partner — Camilla. 

Partner,  by  Duke  of  Hamilton's  Figure — Old  Figure  mare. 

Passenger,  1836,  by  Langar — My  Lady. 

Passaic,  1836,  by  Reveller — Rachel. 

Paul,  1807,  by  Saltram — Purity,  by  Matchem. 

Phenomenon,  1780,  by  Herod — Phrenzy. 

Pharaoh,  1753.  by  Moses — Godolphin  mare. 

Phil  Brown,  by  Glaucus — Bustle. 

Phoenix,  1798,  by  Old  Dragon — Portia. 

Pilgrim,  1762,  by  Samson — Regulus  mare. 

Play  or  Pay,  1791,  by  Ulysses — Herod  mare. 

Plenipo,  1837,  by  Plenipo — Polly  Hopkins. 

Portland,  1834,  by  Recovery — Caifacaratodaddera. 

Post  Captain,  1835,  by  The  Colonel — Posthuma. 

Precipitate,  1787,  by  Mercury — Herod  mare. 

Priam,  1827,  by  Emilius — Cressida. 

Priam,  1834,  by  Priam — Soothsayer  mare. 

Prince,  1773,  by  Herod — Helen,  by  Blank. 

Prince  Ferdinand,  by  Herod — Matchem  mare. 

Punch,  by  Herod — Marske  mare. 

Regulus,  1747,  by  Regulus — Partner  mare. 

Restless,  1788,  by  Phenomenon — Duchess. 

Reveller  colt,  1836,  by  Reveller — Rachel. 

Rutland,  1810,  by  Stamford — Worthy  mare. 

Riddlesworth,  1828,  by  Emilius — Filagree. 

Roan  colt,  1802,  by  Sir  Peter  Teazle — Mercury  mare. 

Robin  Redbreast,  1796,  by  Sir  Peter  Teazle — Wren. 

Roman,  1815,  by  Camillas — Leon  Forte. 

Rotherham,  1838,  by  Grey  Conqueror — Camilla  mare. 

Rosalio,  1836,  by  Vanish — Rose  Leaf. 

Rowton,  1826,  by  Oiseau— Katherina. 

Rowton  colt,  1836,  by  Nanine — Nannie. 

Royalist,  1790,  by  Saltram — Herod  mare. 

Ruby,  1836,  by  Emilius — Eliza. 

St.  George,  1789,  by  Highflyer — Sister  to  Soldier. 

St.  Giles,  1829,  by  Tramp — Arcot  Lass. 

St.  Patrick  Colt,  1835,  by  St.  Patrick— Maria,  by  Whisker. 

St.  Paul,  1791,  by  Saltram — Purity,  by  Matchem. 

Saltram,  1780,  by  Eclipse — Virago. 

Scout,  1836,  by  St.  Nicholas— Blacklock  mare. 

Scythian,  1851,  by  Orlando — Scythia. 

Selim,  1780,  by  Bajazet — Miss  Thigh. 

Serab,  1821,  by  Phantom — Jessie. 

Shadow,  1759,  by  Babraham — Bolton  Starling  mare. 

Shakspeare,  1823,  by  Smolensko — Charming  Molly. 


466  THE  HORSE. 

Shamrock,  1827,  by  St.  Patrick— Fairy. 

Shark,  1771,  by  Marske — Snap  mare. 

Shock,  by  Stork — Partner  mare. 

Shock,  1729,  by  Jig — Snake  mare. 

Silver,  1789,  by  Mercury — Herod  mare. 

Silver  Eye,  by  Cullen  Arab — Curwen's  Bay  Barb. 

Sir  Harry,  1794,  by  Sir  Peter  Teazle — Matron. 

Sir  Peter  Teazle,  1802,  by  Sir  Peter  Teazle — Mercury  mare. 

Sir  Robert,  1833,  by  Bobadil— Fidalma,  by  Waxy  Pope. 

Skylark,  1826,  by  Waxy  Pope— Skylark. 

Slender,  1779,  by  King 'Herod— Rachel. 

Slim,  1768,  by  Wildman's  Babraham — Babraham  mare. 

Sloven,  1756,  by  Cub — Bolton  Starling  mare. 

Slouch,  1745,  by  Cade — Little  Hartley  mare. 

Sorrow,  1836,  by  Defence — Tears. 

Sour  Grout,  1786,  by  Highflyer — Jewel. 

Sovereign,  1836,  by  Emilius — Fleur  de  Lis. 

Spadille,  1784,  by  Highflyer— Flora. 

Spark,  by  Honeycomb  Punch — Miss  Colville. 

Speculator,  1795,  by  Dragon — Herod  mare. 

Spread  Eagle,  1792,  by  Volunteer — Highflyer  mare. 

Stafford,  1833,  by  Memuon — Sarsaparilla. 

Star,  1786,  by  Highflyer — Snap  mare. 

Starling,  1800,  by  Sir  Peter  Teazle — Magnet  mare. 

Stirling,  1797,  by  Volunteer — Harriet. 

Stirling,  1762,  by  the  Bellsize  Arabian — Simpson's  Snake  mare. 

Strap,  1800,  by  Beninborough — Highflyer  mare. 

Stratford,  1834,  by  Shakspeare — Pheasant. 

Swiss,  1821,  by  Whisker — Shuttle  mare. 

Tarquin,  1720,  by  Hampton  Court  Arab — Leedes  mare. 

Telegraph,  1795,  by  Guildford— Fame. 

Tickle  Toby,  1786,  by  Alfred— Cselia,  by  Herod. 

Tom  Crib,  by  Gladiator — Jemima. 

Tom  Jones,  1745,  by  Partner — True  Blue  mare. 

Tranby,  1826,  by  Blacklock— Orville  mare. 

True  Blue,  1797,  by  Walnut — King  Fergus  mare. 

Truffle,  1825,  by  Truffle — Helen. 

Trustee,  1829,  by  Catton — Emma. 

Tup,  175*6,  by  Javelin— Flavia. 

Valentine,  1823,  by  Magistrate — Miss  Forester. 

Valparaiso,  1831,  by  Velocipede — Juliana. 

Vampire,  1757,  by  Regulus — Steady  mare. 

Vanish,  1834,  by  Vanish — Elephant's  dam. 

Victor,  1838,  by  Defence — Vivid. 

Volney,  1833,  by  Velocipede — Voltaire's  dam. 

Volunteer,  by  Volunteer — Whipcord  mare. 

Whale,  1830,  by  Whalebone— Rectory. 

Whip,  1794,  by  Saltram — Herod  mare. 

Wildair,  1753,  by  Cade — Steady  mare. 

William  the  Fourth,  1795,  by  Blacklock — Juniper  mare. 

Wonder,  1786,  by  Florizel — Saccharissa. 

Wonder,  1794,  by  Phenomenon — Brown  Fanny. 

Wrangler,  1794,  by  Diomed — Fleacatcher. 

Yorkshire,  1834,  by  St.  Nicholas — Miss  Rose. 

Zinganee,  1825,  by  Tramp — Folly. 

Zinganee  colt,  1840,  by  Zinganee — Miss  Andrews. 


ESSAY 

ON  THE 

AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE 

BY 

ELLWOOD   HARVEY,   M.  D. 


(467) 


THE 


AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE 


THE  trotting  gait  has  been  brought  to  such  a  degree  of  excel- 
lence in  this  country,  and  the  breeding,  training,  and  driving  of 
trotting  horses  claims  so  large  a  share  of  attention,  both  in  town  and 
country,  that  a  book  on  horses  would  be  incomplete  if  it  did  not 
treat  more  fully  of  these  subjects  than  any  foreign  work  could  be 
expected  to  do. 

This  Essay  is  therefore  intended  to  give  some  account  of  the 
history  of  American  trotting  and  of  trotters  of  distinction,  together 
with  a  few  suggestions  on  breeding  and  training  of  this  class  of 
horses. 

Though  trotting  has  been  greatly  cultivated  here,  and  enters 
more  largely  into  the  business  and  pleasure  of  Americans  than  of  any 
other  people,  it  would  be  an  error  to  suppose  that  no  attention  has 
been  given  to  it  in  any  other  country,  or  that  the  matching  of 
trotters  in  races  had  its  origin  here.  The  trot  is  a  natural  gait  to 
the  horse,  as  it  is  to  many  other  quadrupeds,  and  wherever  horses 
are  driven  in  harness  their  trotting  is  likely  to  be  improved.  A 
horseback  rider  finds  the  gallop  and  the  canter  easier  to  him,  and 
horses  are  chiefly  trained  to  those  gaits  in  countries  where  light 
vehicles  and  good  roads  are  unknown  ;  as  in  Asia,  Africa,  the 
eastern  part  of  Europe,  and  all  of  America  except  the  United  States 
and  Canada. 

Trotting,  as  a  sport,  began  in  England  as  early  as  1791,  in  which 
year  we  find  an  account  of  a  brown  mare,  eighteen  years  old,  that 
trotted  on  the  Essex  road  16  miles  in  58  minutes.  On  the  13th  of 
October,  1799,  a  trotting  match  was  decided  on  Sunbury  Common, 
England,  between  Mr.  Dixon's  brown  gelding  and  Mr.  Bishop's 
gray  gelding,  each  carrying  168  pounds,  which  was  won  in  27m. 
10s.  The  distance  is  not  stated,  but  the  time  shows  that  it  was  a 
trial  of  endurance  as  well  as  speed.  Nearly  all  of  the  English 
trotting  matches  of  that  early  period  were  of  great  distance.  A 
Mr.  Stevens  drove  a  pair  of  his  own  horses  tandem,  in  1796,  from 
40  (469) 


470  THE  HORSE. 

Windsor  to  Hampton  Court,  16  miles,  in  less  than  an  hour;  and 
the  celebrated  English  trotter,  Archer,  carried  210  Ibs.  16  miles 
in  55  minutes.  At  about  this  period  a  variety  of  roadsters  called 
Norfolk  trotters  came  into  notice  in  England,  and  still  maintain  a 
good  reputation  there,  though  none  of  them  have  ever  attained  a 
speed  that  would  be  considered  very  fast  here.  No  other  European 
country  has  produced  trotters  worthy  of  notice. 

Trotting  as  a  public  amusement  began  somewhat  later  in  this 
country.  Porter's  Spirit  of  the  Times,  of  December  20,  1356, 
states  :  "  The  first  time  ever  a  horse  trotted  in  public  for  a  stake 
was  in  1818,  and  that  was  a  match  against  time  for  $1000.  The 
match  was  proposed  at  a  jockey-club  dinner,  where  trotting  had 
come  under  discussion,  and  the  bet  was  that  no  horse  could  be 
produced  that  could  trot  a  mile  in  3  minutes.  It  was  accepted  by 
Maj.  Win.  Jones,  of  Long  Island,  and  Col.  Bond,  of  Maryland,  but 
the  odds  on  time  were  immense.  The  horse  named  at  the  post  was 
Boston  Blue,  who  won  cleverly,  and  gained  great  renown.  He 
subsequently  was  purchased  by  Thomas  Cooper,  the  tragedian,  who 
drove  him  on  several  occasions  between  New  York  and  Philadel- 
phia, thereby  enabling  him  to  perform  his  engagements  in  either 
city  on  alternate  nights/'  This  performance  was  more  then  twenty 
years  later  than  the  first  public  trotting  in  England,  where  the 
sport  was  then  receiving  some  encouragement;  and  Boston  Blue 
was  taken  to  that  country,  where  he  trotted  8  miles  in  28m.  55s., 
winning  a  hundred  sovereigns.  He  also  trotted  several  shorter 
races,  making  about  3m.  time.  He  was  a  rat-tailed,  iron-gray 
gelding,  16  hands  high,  and  nothing  is  known  of  his  pedigree. 

Trotting  received  very  little  attention  here  until  after  1820, 
when  the  descendants  of  Messenger  attracted  notice  by  their  speed, 
spirit,  and  endurance ;  chiefly  about  Philadelphia  and  New  York. 

In  1825  the  New  York  Trotting  Club  was  organized,  and  estab- 
lished a  trotting  course  on  Long  Island. 

In  1828  the  Hunting  Park  Association  was  established  in  Phila- 
delphia— "  for  the  encouragement  of  the  breed  of  fine  horses,  espe- 
cially that  most  valuable  one  known  as  the  trotter/'  Its  course, 
known  as  the  Hunting  Park,  was  located  about  four  miles  north  of 
the  city. 

Before  the  era  marked  by  the  organization  of  these  two  associa- 
tions, three  minutes  was  about  the  shortest  time  in  which  any  horse 
here  or  in  England  had  trotted  a  mile.  In  imitation  of  the  four- 
mile  running  heats  then  and  now  common,  the  first  trials  of  trot- 
ting speed  were  usually  for  three  miles  or  more  ;  and  effort  was  not 
then  directed  to  the  development  of  the  greatest  degree  of  speed 
for  a  single  mile.  For  several  years,  two  and  three-mile  heats  were 
trotted  at  about  the  rate  of  2m.  40s.  to  the  mile,  and  this  is  about 
the  average  speed  of  to-day,  estimating  from  the  reports  of  trotting 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE.  471 

races  in  the  Spirit  of  the  Times,  though  we  now  have  many  that 
can  go  the  mile  in  less  than  2m.  30s.,  a  few  that  can  make  2m.  24s., 
and  two  or  three  that  have  trotted  in  less  than  2m.  20s.  Among 
the  early  celebrities  were  Screwdriver,  Betsy  Baker,  Topgallant, 
Whalebone,  Shakspeare,  Paul  Pry,  Trouble,  and  Sir  Peter;  all 
grand-colts  of  Messenger,  except  the  first  named,  and  he  was  a 
great-gran d-colt.  As  many  of  the  most  distinguished  trotters  of  * 
the  present  day  claim  the  same  lineage,  and  as  the  influence  of  this 
great  progenitor  on  the  trotting  stock  of  the  country  was  immensely 
greater  than  that  of  all  others  together,  a  history  of  Messenger  and 
his  descendants  would  be  a  pretty  full  history  of  the  eminent  trot- 
ting horses  of  the  world. 

Messenger  was  an  English  thorough -bred,  foaled  in  1780,  and 
imported,  as  were  many  other  English  thorough-breds,  on  account 
of  his  value  as  a  running  horse,  and  for  the  improvement  of 
thorough-breds  in  this  country.  He  had  run  successfully  in  sev- 
eral races,  and  at  five  years  old  won  the  King's  Plate.  It  was 
three  years  after  this  performance,  1788,  that  he  was  imported 
inte  New  York  by  Mr.  Benger.  The  first  two  seasons  after  his 
arrival  he  was  kept  at  Neshaminy  Bridge,  near  Bristol,  in  Bucks 
county,  Pa.  Mr.  Henry  Astor  then  purchased  him,  and  kept  him 
on  Long  Island  for  two  years.  About  this  time  Mr.  C.  W.  Van 
Rantz  purchased  an  interest  in  him,  and  for  the  remainder  of  his 
life  he  was  kept  in  various  parts  of  the  state  of  New  York,  with 
the  exception  of  one  year  at  Cooper's  Point,  in  New  Jersey,  oppo- 
site Philadelphia.  He  died  January  28,  1808. 

Messenger  was  a  gray,  15  hands  3  inches  high,  and  stoutly  built. 
His  form  was  not  strictly  in  conformity  with  the  popular  notions 
of  perfection,  being  upright  in  the  shoulders  and  low  on  the 
withers,  with  a  short,  straight  neck  and  a  large,  bony  head.  His 
loins  and  hind  quarters  were  powerfully  muscular,  his  windpipe 
and  nostrils  of  unusual  size,  his  hocks  and  knees  very  large,  and 
below  them  limbs  of  medium  size,  but  flat  and  clean  •  and  whether 
at  rest  or  in  motion,  his  position  and  carriage  always  perfect  and 
striking.  It  is  said  that  during  the  voyage  to  this  country  the 
three  other  horses  that  accompanied  him  became  so  reduced  in 
flesh  and  strength  that  when  the  vessel  landed  at  New  York  they 
had  to  be  helped  and  supported  down  the  gang-plank ;  but  when 
it  came  Messenger's  turn  to  land,  he,  with  a  loud  neigh,  charged 
down  the  gang-plank,  with  a  colored  groom  on  each  side  holding 
him  back,  and  dashed  off  up  the  street  at  a  stiff  trot,  carrying  the 
grooms  along  in  spite  of  their  efforts  to  stop  him. 

Though  his  name  has  been  made  illustrious  chiefly  by  the  per- 
formances of  his  trotting  descendants,  he  was  also  the  sire  of  some 
of  the  best  running  horses  of  his  day.  The  most  famous  on  the 
turf  of  his  immediate  thorough-bred  descendants  were  Potomac, 


472  THE  HORSE. 

Fair  Rachel,  Miller's  Damsel  (darn  of  American  Eclipse),  Bright 
Phoebus,  Hambletonian,  Sir  Solomon,  and  Sir  Harry.  The  cele- 
brated four-mile  racer,  Ariel,  had  Messenger  in  her  pedigree  four 
times  in  five  generations. 

In  his  day  trotting  was  not  much  in  fashion,  as  we  have  shown, 
and  nothing  is  known  of  the  trotting  speed  of  this  great  fountain- 
*head  of  trotters,  nor  were  any  of  his  sons  or  daughters  ever  trained 
to  that  gait.  It  was  the  second  generation  of  his  descendants,  the 
grand-colts  of  Messenger,  and  mostly  those  produced  by  a  cross 
with  the  common  stock  of  the  country,  that  attracted  attention  by 
their  trotting  speed.  This  fact  is  easily  explained.  The  thorough- 
breds of  his  get  were  trained  to  running,  and  were  not  used  as  road 
horses,  or  some  of  them  would  probably  have  surpassed  any  of  his 
half-bred  descendants  in  trotting.  But  even  his  own  half-bred 
colts  made  no  mark  as  trotters,  though  some  of  them  became  cele- 
brated as  the  sires  of  trotters.  This  is  somewhat  remarkable ;  but 
we  should  bear  in  mind  that  public  attention  had  not  then  been 
given  to  that  gait,  good  roads  and  light  vehicles  were  not  so  com- 
mon, and  the  next  generation  being  more  numerous,  the  probabili- 
ties were  greater  that  this  remarkable  quality  of  the  family  should 
not  remain  undiscovered. 

The  sons  of  Messenger  to  which  nearly  all  the  fast  trotters  of 
the  present  day  trace  their  pedigree  were  Plato,  Engineer,  Com- 
mander, Why-Not,  Mount  Holly,  Mambrino,  and  Hambletonian. 

Mambrino,  named  after  the  sire  of  Messenger,  was  thorough- 
bred, a  bright  bay,  16  hands  high,  long  bodied,  and,  like  his  sire, 
upright  in  the  shoulders.  He  was  not  only  a  large,  but  also  a 
coarse  horse,  badly  string-halted ;  a  disease  that  seldom  impairs  a 
horse's  usefulness,  though  it  was  hereditary  in  this  case,  and  many 
of  his  descendants  had  it.  He  had  a  free,  rapid,  swinging  walk,  a 
slashing  trot,  and  running  speed  of  the  first  order.  He  was  the 
sire  of  Betsy  Baker,  one  of  the  first  eminent  American  trotters ; 
of  Abdallah,  from  whom  are  descended  many  of  the  fastest,  includ- 
ing the  get  of  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian,  who  was  sired  by  Abdallah, 
and  of  Mambrino  Paymaster,  from  whom  are  descended  Mambrino 
Chief  and  all  his  get,  including  Lady  Thorn,  Mambriuo  Pilot,  Bay 
Chief,  &c.  This  son  of  Messenger  stands  undoubtedly  at  the  head 
of  the  family  as  a  progenitor  of  trotters. 

Next  in  celebrity  is  Hambletonian,  also  thorough-bred.  He 
was  a  dark  bay,  15  hands  1  inch,  beautifully  moulded,  and  without 
a  single  weak  point.  He  was  the  sire  of  Topgallant,  Whalebone, 
Sir  Peter,  Trouble,  and  Shakspeare ;  all  ranked  among  the  best  of 
the  early  American  trotters. 

Abdallah  was  a  grandson  of  Messenger,  arid  deserves  especial 
mention  in  this  connection  because  so  many  trotters  of  celebrity 
are  descended  through  him.  He  was  foaled  in  1826,  the  property 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING-  HORSE.  473 


of  Mr.  John  Treadwell,  of  Jamaica,  L.  I.  His  sire  was  Mambrino, 
and  his  dam  a  daughter  of  Messenger,  called  Amazonia.  Thus 
Abdallah  was  closely  inbred.  He  was  a  bay,  and  inherited  much 
of  the  plainness  of  his  sire ;  but  also  inherited  the  trotting  quality 
of  Messenger  in  great  degree.  He  was  trained  at  four  years  eld, 
and  was  considered  the  fastest  young  horse  of  his  day.  In  the 
spring  of  1840  he  was  sold  to  Mr.  John  W.  Hunt,  of  Lexington, 
Ky. ;  but,  on  account  of  the  great  value  of  his  stock,  he  was 
bought  back  the  next  year,  at  a  high  price,  and  died  in  1852. 
Beside  being  a  progenitor,  through  his  son,  Rysdyk's  Hamble- 
tonian,  of  that  numerous  and  highly-distinguished  family  of  trotters 
of  which  Dexter,  George  Wilkes,  and  Mountain  Boy  are  the  most 
eminent  representatives,  he  is  equally  remarkable  for  the  number 
of  mares  of  his  get  from  whom  very  fast  trotters  have  been  bred. 
To  say  that  a  horse  is  "out  of  an  Abdallah  mare/'  is  pedigree 
enough  on  that  side  with  most  horsemen. 

Of  the  other  sons  of  Messenger  it  is  not  necessary  to  speak  at 
length,  though  we  find  many  horses  of  the  present  day  descended 
from  them,  and  inheriting  the  Messenger  characteristics.  When 
the  pedigree  of  any  fast  trotter  can  be  traced  far  enough,  it  rarely 
happens  that  Messenger  is  not  found  in  it.  Many  horses  that  show 
good  trotting  speed,  and  are  considered  by  their  breeders  and 
owners  to  be  nothing  but  common  stock,  are  found  to  be  descended 
from  Messenger,  when  intelligent  investigation  reveals  their  pedi- 
grees. 

Another  imported  horse  that  added  something  to  the  trotting 
quality  of  our  stock  was  Bellfounder,  a  stallion  foaled  about  1817 
and  brought  from  England  to  Boston  in  1823  by  Mr.  James  Boot. 
He  was  a  bay  of  fine  form,  size,  and  action  j  and  these  character- 
istics were  transmitted  to  his  colts  with  great  uniformity.  Many 
of  them  were  very  good  and  stylish  carriage  horses,  with  consider- 
able speed,  but  only  those  infused  with  Messenger  blood  were  very 
fast.  Nothing  is  known  of  his  pedigree,  though  his  appearance 
indicated  that  he  was  nearly  thoroughbred.  It  was  said  that  he 
had  trotted  in  England  2  miles  in  6m.  when  three  years  old  and 
10  miles  in  30m.  at  four  years  old.  It  was  also  asserted  that  he 
had  trotted  17 £  miles  in  an  hour;  but  these  statements,  not  being 
very  well  authenticated,  are  deemed  apocryphal  by  the  best  horse- 
men of  this  day.  One  of  his  colts,  of  the  same  name,  stood  several 
years  in  Delaware  county,  Pa.,  and  left  a  numerous  family  of 
handsome,  lively  trotters,  nearly  all  of  which  became  lame  in  the 
fore  feet,  and  some  even  to  the  fifth  generation.  His  advent  to 
that  locality  was  a  loss  of  many  thousands  of  dollars  to  breeders. 
The  name  of  Bellfounder,  there,  is  about  synonymous  with  worth- 
lessness,  and  will  long  remain  in  disrepute ;  though  this  particular 
son  of  the  imported  horse  probably  inherited  his  constitutional 
40* 


474  THE  HORSE. 

tendency  to  lameness  from  his  dam,  as  the  Bellfounders  elsewhere 
are  not  charged  with  the  same  defect.  Many  distinguished  trotters 
are  in  part  descended  from  some  of  the  many  thorough-breds  that 
have  been  imported  from  England  at  various  times,  and,  indeed, 
our  most  celebrated  horses  have  a  strong  infusion  of  that  blood, 
derived  from  other  sources  than  Messenger.  Conceding  the  value 
of  good  thorough-bred  crosses  in  giving  spirit  and  endurance  to 
trotting  horses,  and  admitting  that  Diomed,  Whip,  Trustee,  Glen- 
coe,  Margrave,  and  other  imported  thorough-breds  have  eminent 
trotters  among  their  descendants,  it  may  be  safe  to  say  that  all 
of  them  together  would  not  have  produced  a  family  of  trotters 
without  a  cross  from  Messenger  \  and  equally  safe  to  assert  that 
the  fame  of  Messenger  would  have  been  no  less  if  any  one  of  the 
others  had  never  been  foaled.  The  imported  Arabian,  Grand 
Bashaw,  had  the  luck  to  have  his  name  perpetuated  in  a  family 
of  good  trotters  that  originated  in  Bucks  county,  Pa.,  but  the 
trotting  quality  all  came  from  Messenger,  who  stood  in  that  county 
two  years.  The  first  of  the  Bashaws  that  manifested  any  trotting 
quality  was  Young  Bashaw,  a  son  of  the  Arabian  j  and  he  was  the 
only  one  of  the  whole  get  (if  we  may  coin  a  word)  that  was  thus 
endowed.  The  explanation  is  found  in  the  fact  that  Young 
Bashaw's  dam  was  a  granddaughter  of  Messenger. 

Of  American  horses  not  descended  from  Messenger  that  have 
contributed  to  establish  the  reputation  of  our  trotters,  the  number 
is  not  large  nor  the  influence  very  considerable.  Sir  Henry,  the 
famous  competitor  of  American  Eclipse,  and  Duroc,  both  thorough- 
breds, and  both  descended  from  imported  Diomed,  seem  to  have 
transmitted  some  trotting  quality  to  their  descendants,  but  it  is 
very  doubtful  that  either,  or  both,  would  have  established  a  family 
of  trotters.  Seely's  American  Star,  quite  famous  as  the  sire  of 
modern  trotters,  combines  the  blood  of  both,  being  sired  by  Ameri- 
can Star,  a  son  of  Duroc,  and  out  of  Sally  Slouch  by  Sir  Henry ; 
but  his  .grand-dam  was  by  Messenger.  American  Eclipse,  the 
progenitor  of  many  good  trotters,  had  also  the  blood  of  Duroc,  his 
sire ;  but  as  his  dam,  Miller's  Damsel,  was  by  Messenger,  the  Duroc 
part  of  the  pedigree  is  seldom  thought  of.  Americus,  who  beat 
Lady  Suffolk  on  the  Hunting  Park  Course  in  a  five-mile  match  to 
wagons  in  the  remarkable  time  of  13m.  54s.  and  13m.  58 £s.,  was 
by  Red  Jacket,  a  son  of  Duroc,  and  not  known  to  have  inherited 
his  trotting  from  any  other  source. 

Canada  has  added,  something  to  our  trotting  stock.  In  Lower 
Canada,  where  the  earliest  settlers  were  French,  and  brought  with 
them  a  breed  of  horses  now  known  in  France  as  Normans,  they 
have  a  breed  of  hardy,  spirited,  compactly  built  horses,  descended 
from  the  larger  French  horse,  inheriting  much  of  his  form  and 
general  appearance,  but  greatly  diminished  in  size.  These  Cana- 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE.  475 

dian  horses  are  often  called  Cannucks,  and  by  some  are  known  as 
French  horses,  a  designation  likely  to  lead  to  misapprehension. 
They  are  of  all  colors,  with  thick,  long  manes,  heavy  tails,  and 
hairy  legs.  Their  heads  are  generally  very  good  in  size  and  form, 
faces  dished,  indicating  gamy  dispositions;  necks  well  arched, 
often  heavy  in  the  crest  but  carried  well  up ;  backs  short,  rumps 
steep,  particularly  in  those  that  pace ;  bodies  round  and  roomy, 
the  ribs  sometimes  projecting  from  the  backbone  nearly  horizon- 
tally, giving  a  peculiar,  flat  appearance  to  the  back.  Their  legs 
are  generally  good,  but  somewhat  inclined  to  spring  in  the  knees ; 
feet  often  narrow  and  mulish,  but  very  durable.  In  trotting  they 
are  usually  short,  quick  steppers  with  very  high  knee  action,  and 
are  spirited,  trappy  harness  horses,  and  long-lived.  These  horses 
are  often  said  to  be  degenerated  from  their  Norman  ancestry  by 
reason  of  the  coldness  of  the  climate,  the  long  winters  and  scanty 
fare.  There  have  been  numerous  importations  from  France  to 
this  country  of  the  choicest  specimens  of  Norman  horses,  and  an 
impartial  comparison  shows  that  the  Canadian  has  gained  in  spirit 
and  speed  more  than  enough  to  compensate  for  all  he  has  lost  in 
size. 

The  best  of  the  Canadians  that  ever  came  to  the  States  was, 
probably,  Pilot,  a  black  pacing  and  trotting  horse  whose  descend- 
ants inherited  trotting  speed.  He  was  often  distinguished  as  Old 
Pacer  Pilot.  Wallace's  American  Stud  Book  says  of  him  :  "  Foaled 
about  1826.  Nothing  is  known  of  his  pedigree.  He  was  called 
a  Canadian  horse,  and  both  trotted  and  paced  ;  at  the  latter  gait, 
it  is  said,  he  went  in  2m.  26s.  with  1651bs.  on  his  back.  He  was 
bought  about  1832  by  Major  0.  Dubois,  from  a  Yankee  peddler 
in  New  Orleans,  for  $1000.  He  was  afterwards  sold  to  D.  Hein- 
sohn  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  was  kept  in  that  vicinity  until  he 
died  about  1855.  His  stock  were  very  stout  and  fast."  As  no- 
thing is  known  of  his  pedigree,  and  as  he  was  in  all  appearance  a 
genuine  Cannuck,  it  is  likely  that  he  did  not  owe  anything  to 
Messenger.  One  of  his  get,  Alexander's  Pilot,  Jr.,  out  of  Nancy 
Pope  by  Havoc,  was  the  sire  of  many  fast  trotters,  the  fastest  of 
which  was  John  Morgan,  out  of  a  mare  by  Medoc  and  he  by  Ameri- 
can Eclipse.  The  dam  of  Mambrino  Pilot  was  also  by  Pilot,  Jr., 
and,  like  John  Morgan,  was  of  Messenger  descent  on  the  dam's 
side.  Though  the  best  of  the  descendants  of  Old  Pilot  are  part 
Messenger,  there  is  none  of  that  blood  in  Pilot,  Jr.,  and  it  must  be 
confessed  that  Old  Pilot  sired  some  very  good  horses  that  took  the 
trotting  all  from  himself. 

Another  horse  of  Canadian  origin,  though  not  a  Cannuck, 
deserves  notice  in  this  connection.  Royal  George,  called  Warrior 
before  he  came  to  the  States,  the  sire  of  the  fast  stallion  Toronto 
Chief,  and  several  other  good  trotters,  was  a  native  of  Canada  and 


476  THE  HORSE. 

probably  out  of  a  Cannuck  mare,  but  his  sire  was  Black  Warrior, 
and  he  by  an  imported  English  horse. 

Some  very  good  colts  have  been  bred  out  of  Cannucks  by  good 
trotting  stallions.  Thus  the  celebrated  sons  of  Rysdyk's  Hamble- 
tonian,  Bruno  and  the  Brother  of  Bruno,  and  their  full  sister 
Brunette,  are  out  of  a  Canadian  inare.  At  three  years  old  Bruno 
made  the  astonishing  time  of  2m.  39s.  in  harness.  At  four  years 
old,  2m.  30s.  and  2m.  34s.  At  six  years  old  he  trotted  to  the 
pole  with  Brunette,  seven  years  old,  on  the  Fashion  Course  in  2m. 
35is. 

Gift,  a  chestnut  gelding  by  Mambrino  Pilot,  was  out  of  a  small 
pacing  Cannuck.  At  four  years  old  he  received  five  forfeits,  and 
challenged,  through  the  Spirit  of  the  Times,  any  colt  of  the  same 
age  to  trot  in  harness  or  to  wagon  for  $1000,  without  being  accepted. 
Though  these  colts  are  out  of  Canadian  mares,  it  must  be  considered 
that  the  mares  themselves  were  not  very  fast,  and  that  Rysdyk's 
Hambletonian  and  Mambrino  Pilot  are  the  best  two  trotting  foal 
getters  in  the  world.  The  bay  stallion  St.  Lawrence,  the  sire  of 
several  fast  trotters,  was  a  Canadian,  and  one  of  the  best  of  his 
breed.  He  died  at  Kalamazoo  in  1858.  There  is  one  other  horse 
deserving  especial  notice  as  a  progenitor  of  trotters,  in  whose  veins 
no  blood  of  Messenger  can  be  found,  though  his  pedigree  is  too 
obscure  to  warrant  the  assertion  that  none  existed  there.  Black 
Hawk,  often  called  Vermont  Black  Hawk  to  distinguish  him  from 
the  equally  celebrated  Long  Island  Black  Hawk,  and  also  called 
Hill's  Black  Hawk,  was  of  Morgan  stock  on  his  sire's  side ,  being 
a  son  of  Sherman,  one  of  the  best  sons  of  Justin  Morgan,  the 
founder  of  the  Morgan  family.  The  dam  of  Black  Hawk  was 
raised  in  New  Brunswick,  and  nothing  is  known  of  her  pedigree. 
Black  Hawk  was  foaled  in  1833  at  Greenland,  N.  H.  At  four 
years  old  he  was  sold  to  Lowell,  Mass.,  where  he  was  used  as  a 
carriage  horse  for  seven  years.  He  then  became  the  property  of 
David  Hill,  of  Bridport,  Vt.,  where  he  acquired  great  fame ;  beget- 
ting more  high  priced  colts  than  any  other  horse  of  his  day.  He 
had  remarkable  power  in  propagating  his  own  characteristics,  and 
his  stock  were  uniformly  stylish,  spirited  harness  horses,  many  of 
them  fast  and  some  of  them  among  the  fastest.  Another  history 
of  his  pedigree  mades  him  the  son  of  a  Canadian  named  Paddy ; 
and  still  another  declares  him  a  veritable  native  of  Canada,  though 
not  a  pure  Cannuck.  The  story,  as  it  was  given  the  writer  by 
Mr.  Lucien  Be"chard,  a  Canadian  horse  dealer,  is  as  follows :  An 
old  Canadian  Frenchman  engaged  in  smuggling  tobacco  from  the 
States,  bought  there  and  took  home  with  him  a  brown  mare  with 
foal.  In  due  time  she  had  a  bay  colt,  that  at  two  years  old  begot 
Black  Hawk  out  of  a  little  gray  mare  not  over  14  hands  high. 
The  fortunate  possessor  of  the  black  colt  was  a  widow  who  lived 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE.  477 

by  the  Chambly  river  in  the  Montreal  district.  At  four  years  old 
he  was  sold  to  John  Harris  for  $200,  and  at  six  years  old  was  sold 
again  to  Van  Loiseu,  a  dealer,  for  $400.  Van  Loiseu  taught  him 
many  tricks,  at  learning  which  he  showed  great  aptitude,  and  sold 
him  in  New  York  to  a  Boston ian  for  $600.  From  Boston  he  got 
to  Lowell,  &c.  This  story  is  probably  all  true  of  some  horse,  but 
the  identity  is  not  established.  Black  Hawk's  colts  were  never 
gray,  as  many  of  them  would  have  been  if  his  dam  was  that  color, 
but  many  of  them  were  chestnuts  with  white  feet  and  faces,  which 
was  the  color  of  Sherman  and  of  Sherman's  dam.  This  fact  pretty 
clearly  shows  that  neither  the  "  Paddy"  story  nor  the  Canadian 
pedigree  are  correct,  but  that  Black  Hawk  was  truly  a  Morgan. 
He  was  a  little  under  15  hands,  and  weighed  about  lOOOlbs.  In 
1842  he  won  $1000  by  trotting  five  miles  over  the  Cambridge 
Park  Course  in  16m.  In  1843  he  won  a  race  of  two-mile  heats 
with  ease  in  5m.  43s.  and  5m.  48s.,  and  several  times  trotted  single 
miles  in  2m.  42s.  He  was  the  sire  of  Ethan  Allen,  Black  Ralph, 
Lancet,  Belle  of  Saratoga,  Black  Hawk  Maid,  Flying  Cloud,  and 
many  others  of  good  repute  for  speed.  His  colts  were  in  great 
demand,  particularly  in  the  West  and  South,  where  hundreds  were 
sold  at  very  high  prices.  As  many  of  his  sons  were,  and  still  are, 
kept  as  stallions,  his  descendants  are  very  numerous;  and  he 
undoubtedly  has  done  much  to  improve  the  stock  of  American 
horses.  But,  notwithstanding  these  facts,  the  reputation  of  the 
family  appears  to  be  diminishing.  Of  fifty-two  trotting  stallions 
advertised  in  the  Spirit  of  the  Times  in  1868,  only  three  are 
descendants  of  Vermont  Black  Hawk,  and  all  of  these  are  also 
part  Messenger. 

Every  one  of  the  fifty-two  is  descended  from  Messenger,  and 
those  most  distinguished  as  sires  of  trotters  have  each  several  crosses 
of  Messenger  blood  in  their  pedigree.  These  are  very  remarkable 
facts,  and,  taken  in  connection  with  the  whole  history  of  trotters, 
prove  that  we  not  only  owe  to  Messenger  the  origin  of  American 
trotting  horses,  but  also  that  the  continuance  of  that  particular 
quality,  down  to  the  present  day,  in  increasing  force,  is  due  to  the 
perpetuation  of  his  stock,  and  to  breeding  together  his  descendants 
so  as  to  combine  the  greatest  quantity  of  Messenger  blood  iri  one 
animal.  The  value  of  his  descendants  depends,  undoubtedly,  in 
great  degree,  upon  the  quality  of  the  horses  crossed  with  the  Mes- 
senger blood;  and  those  other  horses,  both  native  and  foreign, 
whether  thorough-breds,  Cannucks,  or  of  mixed  blood,  that  may 
justly  claim  a  share  in  establishing  the  fame  of  American  trotters, 
have  done  very  little  more  than  cross  well  mth  the  Messengers. 
It  is,  probably,  no  exaggeration  to  say  that  all  of  them  together 
would  have  failed  to  establish  a  family  of  trotters  in  the  country 
if  Messenger  the  Great  had  not  been  imported.  The  trotting 


478  THE  HORSE. 

quality  runs  out  of  all  of  them  in  a  few  generations  if  not  crossed 
with  the  Messenger  blood.  They  are  but  the  tributary  streams  to 
the  great  river  of  which  Messenger  was  the  source.  The  immense 
influence  of  this  one  horse  has  a  universal  recognition  in  the  com- 
mon expression  :  "  A  full-blooded  Messenger,"  than  which  nothing 
can  be  more  absurd.  There  was  never  but  one  full-blooded  Mes- 
senger, and  he  died  sixty  years  ago.  Another  expression  often 
used  in  pedigrees  is  :  "  Out  of  a  Messenger  mare."  This  may  not 
be  so  absurd  as  the  other,  for  the  mare  may  be  well  endued  with 
Messenger  blood  and  quality,  and  almost  entitled  to  the  distinction  ; 
but  in  strict  meaning  none  were  Messenger  mares  except  those  of 
his  own  begetting.  The  Messengers  are  not  a  breed,  as  Cannucks 
and  Mustangs  and  thorough-breds  are,  but  only  a  family ;  and  we 
have  not  arrived  yet  to  the  perpetuation  of  the  family  names  of 
horses  in  the  male  line,  as  is  common  among  people  of  civilized 
countries. 

Pacing  is  not  considered  a  good  harness  gait,  but  some  of  our 
fastest  road  and  sporting  horses  have  been  pacers,  and  they  are  fre- 
quently matched  with  trotters  in  races.  Many  horses  both  trot  and 
pace,  and  of  those  that  have  both  gaits,  some  go  faster  in  one  and 
some  in  the  other.  To  teach  a  trotter  to  pace  is  somewhat  difficult 
unless  the  horse  naturally  inclines  to  it,  but  it  may  be  done  some- 
times by  riding  with  a  severe  curb-bit  and  spurs.  Of  course  it 
requires  good  horsemanship,  as  well  as  means  and  appliances,  to 
urge  the  movement  desired,  and  to  restrain  the  animal  from  the 
steps  he  is  most  accustomed  to  take.  When  the  saddle  was  more 
in  use  than  now,  pacing  was  a  favorite  gait  with  many  riders,  but- 
unless  the  horse  can  occasionally  change  his  way  of  going  into  a 
canter,  it  becomes  very  tiresome  on  a  long  journey.  Though  the 
rider  may  not  be  jolted  from  the  saddle  so  much  as  by  a  trotter, 
the  wabbling  twists  his  back  first  one  way  and  then  the  other  most 
fatiguingly. 

Pacing  and  cantering  are  pleasant  gaits  for  ladies'  hackneys,  and 
are  well  enough  adapted  to  short  journeys.  In  harness  the  pacer 
is  not  graceful.  There  is  a  gait,  somewhat  between  a  pace  and  a 
trot,  and  called  a  single-footed  pace,  that  does  pretty  well  in  har- 
ness, but  very  few  horses  have  it.  For  taking  weight  in  harness, 
or  on  muddy  or  rough  roads,  the  trot  is  greatly  preferable. 

To  teach  a  pacer  to  trot,  various  expedients  are  resorted  to. 
Fence-rails  are  put  down  about  as  far  apart  as  a  trotter  steps  in  a 
jog.  The  pacer  is  ridden  over  them  and  finds  it  difficult  to  lift  his 
feet  over  them  in  that  gait,  and  adopts  the  trot.  When  a  horse 
has  become  very  tir«d  by  long  pacing  he  will  sometimes  ease  his 
weary  muscles  by  a  change  of  action  into  a  trot ;  and  this  he  is 
more  likely  to  do  if  the  roads  are  muddy.  From  such  a  beginning 
a  skilful  driver  may  make  the  trotting  permanent. 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE.  479 

Some  very  good  and  fast  trotters  were  first  pacers  and  were  taught 
the  better  way  of  going,  and  some  of  them  after  they  had  acquired 
speed  in  their  natural  gait. 

Pelhain  was  first  a  very  fast  pacer,  and  afterward  became  a  dis- 
tinguished trotter.  In  1849  he  was  the  first  to  win  a  heat  in  har- 
ness in  2m.  28s.  Cayuga  Chief  was  a  pacer  in  a  livery  stable,  in 
Worcester,  Mass.,  and  a  favorite  ladies'  hackney.  One  day  he 
struck  a  trot,  and  soon  became  distinguished.  In  1844  he  trotted 
to  a  wagon  with  2201bs.  in  2m.  36Js.  The  black  gelding  Pilot, 
probably  a  son  of  the  old  pacer  of  the  same  name,  was  first  a  fast 
pacer.  He  surprised  his  owner  by  striking  a  trot,  and  improved 
so  rapidly  that  in  a  short  time  he  trotted  in  2m.  28 Js.  Tip,  and 
Dart,  and  Sontag  were  all  pacers  that  afterward  trotted  fast.  Old 
Pacer  Pilot  went  fast  in  both  gaits,  and  so  did  his  grandson,  Tom 
Wonder,  the  sire  of  the  famous  twenty-mile  trotter,  John  Stewart. 

Though  there  are  objections  to  pacing  as  a  road  gait,  in  harness, 
some  of  the  fastest  have  been  pacers ;  and  though  it  is  generally 
believed  that  a  pacer  soon  tires,  there  are  performances  on  record 
that  prove  them  capable  of  keeping  in  the  best  of  trotting  com- 
pany for  any  distance.  In  1843,  Sir  Walter  Scott  paced  on  Beacon 
Course  eighteen  miles  in  less  than  an  hour  without  a  break  or  halt. 
In  the  same  year,  Oneida  Chief  paced  against  the  best  trotters  of 
that  time — Lady  Suffolk,  Confidence,  and  Dutchman — and  won 
more  races  than  he  lost,  making  2m.  28£s.,  the  best  time  then  on 
record.  In  the  following  year,  Tippecanoe  paced  at  New  Orleans 
in  2m.  36s.,  carrying  a  very  heavy  rider;  and  Unknown  paced 
on  Beacon  Course  in  2m.  23s.,  a  performance  that  had  never  then 
been  equalled  by  trotter  or  pacer.  Old  Pacer  Pilot  paced  in  2m. 
26s.  with  1651bs.  on  his  back.  In  1850,  lioanoke  paced  under 
saddle  in  2m.  21  Js.  He  was  a  roan  gelding,  and  nothing  is 
known  of  his  pedigree.  In  1854,  Pocahontas  paced  three  heats 
in  a  race  at  New  Orleans  in  2.20,  2.25,  and  2.20.  But  in  the  next 
year  she  brought  the  figures  down  to  something  less  than  has  ever 
been  equalled  by  any  trotter  but  Dexter,  and  not  surpassed  by  him. 
In  a  race  with  Hero,  the  pacer,  in  a  wagon  that  weighed  with  the 
driver  2651bs.,  Pocahontas  paced  the  first  mile  in  2.17.  This  was 
never  beaten  but  once,  and  not  until  1868,  when  Billy  Boyce  paced 
at  Buffalo  faster  than  any  other  horse  has  ever  trotted  or  paced. 
In  a  race  with  Holla  Golddust,  a  trotter,  mile  heats,  3  in  5,  to  sad- 
dle, Boyce  paced  the  second  mile  in  2.15i,  and  the  third  in  2.14i, 
pacing  the  last  half  of  the  second  mile  in  1.5J,  and  the  first  half 
of  the  third  mile  in  1.6. 

Many  pacers  belong  to  trotting  families,  and  some  trotters  seem 
to  take  their  speed  from  a  pacing  ancestor,  though  this  is  not  com- 
mon. Oneida  Chief  was  half  brother  of  Flora  Temple's  sire. 
Woodpecker,  the  trotter,  and  James  K.  Polk,  the  pacer,  both  took 


480  THE  HORSE. 

their  speed  from  the  same  dam.  Hero,  the  pacer,  and  competitor 
of  Pocahontas  in  her  wonderful  performance,  was  begotten  by 
Harris's  Hambletonian,  the  sire  of  the  trotters  True  John,  Green 
Mountain  Maid,  John  Anderson,  and  Sontag,  a  mare  that  was  at 
first  a  natural  pacer  and  afterward  trotted  very  fast.  Saltram,  the 
sire  of  Highland  Maid,  was  a  pacer,  and  his  dam,  Roxana,  was  also 
a  pacer.  Highland  Maid  paced  naturally,  but  was  taught  to  trot, 
and  went  very  fast.  At  six  years  old  she  trotted  against  Flora 
Temple,  and  lost  the  race  by  getting  tired,  being  young,  and  going 
into  a  pace,  which  was  her  natural  and  easiest  gait.  She  won  the 
first  heat  in  2.29,  the  second  in  2.27,  but  was  distanced  in  the 
third.  Highland  Lass,  a  daughter  of  Highland  Maid,  was  a  fast 
trotter,  and  died  in  1865.  Her  daughter,  Highland  Ash,  by 
Ashland,  is  also  a  trotter,  and  in  1868  won  the  Spirit  of  the 
Times  Stake  for  three-year  olds,  over  four  thousand  dollars,  in 
2.48.  Flatbush  Maid,  one  of  Mr.  Robt.  Bonner's  pair  that  trotted 
to  a  road  wagon  in  2.26,  was  begotten  by  a  chestnut  pacing  horse 
that  also  trotted.  Pocahontas  is  nearly  thorough-bred,  and  was 
begotten  by  Cadmus,  a  son  of  American  Eclipse.  She,  therefore, 
takes  her  wonderful  pacing  speed  from  Messenger,  the  sire  of  Mil- 
ler's Damsel,  who  was  the  dam  of  American  Eclipse.  Her  daughter, 
Pocahontas,  Jr.,  by  Ethan  Allen,  is  a  trotter  and  very  fast. 

Billy  Boyce,  a  bay  gelding,  and  very  bloodlike  in  his  appear- 
ance, is  by  Corbeau,  a  horse  owned  near  Harodsburg,  Ky.,  and 
the  sire  of  several  trotters.  Corbeau  was  by  a  Canadian,  not 
known  as  a  begetter  of  trotters;  but  his  dam  was  by  Frank,  a 
thorough -bred,  by  Sir  Charles,  his  granddam  by  Sir  Archy ; 
which  gives  Corbeau  two  lines  of  descent  from  imported  Diomed, 
and  probably  gives  him  also  his  trotting  quality. 

Boyce  has  a  cross  of  the  Messenger,  through  American  Eclipse, 
the  sire  of  his  granddam,  and  this  gives  him  another  cross  of 
Diomed,  through  Duroc,  the  sire  of  American  Eclipse.  He  is, 
therefore,  of  kindred  blood  with  Lady  Thorn,  Dexter,  Mambrino 
Pilot,  Kemble  Jackson,  Independent,  John  Morgan,  Peerless,  and 
others  of  celebrity  ;  that  is,  they  all  combine  in  their  pedigrees 
the  blood  of  Messenger  and  Diomed. 

These  facts,  a  few  of  the  many  that  could  be  cited,  show  the 
close  relationship  between  pacers  and  trotters.  They  derive  their 
speed  from  the  same  sources;  trotters  beget  pacers,  and  pacers 
beget  trotters ;  many  go  fast  in  one  gait,  and,  after  being  taught 
the  other,  go  equally  fast  in  that;  so  that  they  may  properly 
enough  be  classed  together,  and  designated  by  the  common  title 
of  American  Trotters. 

Though  trotters  are  derived  from  so  few  sources  as  to  be  nearly 
all  related  to  all  the  others,  there  are  certain  families  that  claim 
especial  notice. 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE.  481 

At  present  the  most  celebrated  are  the  Hambletonians.  The 
founder  of  this  family  is  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian,  owned  in  Ches- 
ter, N.  Y.,  and  having  more  Messenger  blood  than  any  other 
stallion  living.  See  pedigree,  Table  I.  He  was  foaled  in  1849, 
and  is  still  (in  1869)  standing  at  $500  to  insure.  He  is  the  sire 
of  Dexter,  George  Wilkes,  Bruno,  Brunette,  and  many  others  of 
celebrity.  Mountain  Boy,  owned  by  Commodore  Vanderbilt,  was 
begotten  by  Major  Winfield,  a  son  of  Hambletonian. 

The  Abdallahs  are  an  older  family,  and  not  less  distinguished. 
Abdallah's  pedigree  and  history  are  mentioned  on  pages  472  and 
473. 

The  Vermont  Black  Hawks  were  once  very  popular,  and  for  a 
few  years  their  fame  quite  eclipsed  all  other  families.  On  page 
476  may  be  found  a  more  extended  account  of  them. 

The  Bashaws  are  a  very  excellent  family  of  trotters,  but  nearly 
obliterated  now  by  admixture  with  others.  They  are  a  branch 
of  the  Messenger  family  that  took  their  name  from  an  imported 
Arabian,  but  not  the  trotting  quality.  The  first  of  the  family 
was  Young  Bashaw,  a  son  of  the  Arabian  ;  and  his  best  colt  was 
Andrew  Jackson,  the  first  stallion  that  ever  trotted  in  a  public 
match.  From  him  are  descended  many  sub-families — the  Clays, 
the  Patchens,  &c.  In  the  pedigree  of  Green's  Bashaw,  Table  III., 
may  be  seen  the  pedigree  of  Andrew  Jackson,  and  why  he  was 
the  best  son  of  Young  Bashaw.  Charlotte  Temple,  a  very  fast 
marc  that  was  taken  to  France,  her  full  brother,  the  stallion  Sala- 
din,  and  Black  Bashaw,  another  stallion,  were  all  begotten  by 
Young  Bashaw,  and  the  two  last  named  were  both  progenitors 
of  many  good  trotters.  Comet,  Whiskey,  Lantern,  Belle  of  Balti- 
more, and  Lightning,  were  all  by  Black  Bashaw.  One  of  Andrew 
Jackson's  best  colts  was  the  stallion  Long  Island  Black  Hawk, 
often  confounded  with  Vermont  Black  Hawk,  the  Morgan  Horse. 
They  should  be  carefully  distinguished.  Long  Island  Black  Hawk 
had  Messenger  blood  by  four  lines  of  descent  (see  pedigree  of 
Green's  Bashaw,  Table  III-),  and  his  descendants  inherit  the  trot- 
ting in  large  degree.  Vermont  Black  Hawk  begot  many  good 
horses,  but  the  speed  seems  to  run  out  in  a  few  generations.  He 
had  no  Messenger  in  him. 

George  M.  Patchen  was  descended  from  Long  Island  Black 
Hawk  through  Henry  Clay  and  Cassius  M.  Clay,  with  a  cross  of 
Imported  Diomed  and  another  of  Imported  Trustee.  See  pedigree, 
Table  VI.  Patchen  had  speed  and  bottom  worthy  of  such  a  good 
pedigree,  but  his  descendants  have  not  met  the  expectations  of 
breeders.  They  are  coarse  in  form,  and  subject  to  curbs  and  ring- 
bones. Lucy,  the  best  of  his  get,  was  out  of  a  May  Day  mare, 
and  thus  got  another  cross  of  the  Diomed  from  Sir  Henry,  the  sire 
of  May  Day. 

41  *  2n 


482  THE  HORSE. 

Long  Island  Black  Hawk's  best  son  as  a  stock  horse  was  Henry 
Clay,  out  of  Surry,  a  mare  of  great  speed  from  Canada.  Henry 
Clay  begot  trotters,  and  died  in  1867,  aged  30  years.  His  son, 
Cassius  M.  Clay,  out  of  a  fast  mare  of  unknown  pedigree,  was  the 
sire  of  Patchen,  and  the  ancestor  of  a  numerous  progeny  of  trot- 
ters. He  may  be  considered  the  founder  of  a  family  of  Clays, 
including  C.  M.  Clay,  Jr.,  Harry  Clay  (believed  by  many  to  be  the 
sire  of  Dexter),  Amos's  C.  M.  Clay,  the  sire  of  American  Girl, 
(hat  trotted  in  2m.  40s.  at  4  years  old,  and  2m.  32£s.  at  5  years 
old;  Clay  Pilot,  Kentucky  Clay,  Cora,  Nonpareil,  and  others. 

A  very  good  and  handsome  family  are  the  Morrills,  a  branch 
of  the  Morgans;  Morrill  being  a  descendant  of  Justin  Morgan, 
with  two  crosses  of  Diomed  and  four  of  Messenger  to  account  for 
the  trotting.  His  best  colt  was  Young  Morrill,  owned  by  Samuel 
Perkins,  Cambridge,  Mass.,  now  about  20  years  old,  and  sire  of 
Draco,  Fearnought,  Danville  Boy,  Mountain  Maid,  Hiram  Wood- 
ruff, and  many  others  that  are  among  the  best  of  road  horses.  He 
is  more  of  a  Morgan  than  his  sire  (see  pedigree,  Table  V.),  having 
two  lines  of  descent  from  Justin  Morgan  on  his  dam's  side. 

The  Morgans  are  not  distinguished  as  fast  trotters,  though 
many  of  them,  like  the  Canadians,  from  whom  they  are  in  part 
descended,  are  good  and  smart  road  horses;  and  when  crossed 
with  Messenger,  as  Ethan  Allen,  Flying  Cloud,  Morrill,  Lone  Star, 
&c.,  they  are  among  the  best. 

Another  family  of  very  excellent  reputation  are  the  American 
Stars.  The  founder  of  the  family  was  foaled  in  1837,  and  died 
in  1861,  the  property  of  Jonas  Seely,  Orange  county,  N.  Y.  He 
had  some  Messenger  blood,  but  more  of  Dionied  through  Duroc 
in  one  line  and  Sir  Henry  in  another.  See  his  pedigree  in  the 
pedigree  of  Dexter,  Table  VII.  The  dam  of  Dexter  was  by  Ameri- 
can Star,  as  were  a  good  many  fast  trotters,  the  best  of  which  is 
Peerless,  a  gray  mare,  foaled  in  1853,  and  owned  by  Robert  Bon- 
ner,  of  New  York.  Hiram  Woodruff  said  she  was  the  fastest 
animal  that  he  or  any  other  man  ever  drove  to  a  wagon,  and  that 
he  drove  her  a  quarter  in  30s.  and  a  mile  in  2m.  23 is.  Her  dam 
was  full  of  Messenger  blood.  American  Star  was  a  rat-tailed 
horse,  and  some  of  his  colts  are  rather  deficient  in  hair  on  their 
tails;  but  they  are  fast  and  very  gamey. 

Green's  Bashaw,  foaled  in  1855,  and  owned  in  Muscatine,  Iowa, 
has  some  superior  colts,  among  them  Kirkwood  and  Bashaw,  Jr., 
both  fast ;  and  this,  together  with  his  remarkable  pedigree  (Table 
III.),  justifies  the  expectation  that  he  will  become  the  head  of  a 
distinguished  family.  On  his  sire's  side  he  has  the  Messenger 
blood  through  four  channels,  and  on  his  dam's  side  the  same  pedi- 
gree as  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian  with  an  additional  cross  of  Web- 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE.  483 

ber's  Tom  Thumb,  a  fast  horse  that  looked  like  a  Canadian  and 
begot  trotters. 

Grolddust,  a  chestnut,  foaled  about  1855,  and  owned  by  L.  L 
Dorsey,  Lexington,  Ky.,  has  begotten  quite  a  numerous  family  of 
trotters  considering  his  age.  He  is  a  very  bloodlike  horse,  a  fast 
walker  and  a  fast  trotter.  He  takes  his  speed  from  his  sire,  Ver- 
mont Morgan,  whose  dam  was  by  Cock-of-the-Rock,  he  by  Duroc, 
a  son  of  Diomed.  Cock-of-the-Rock's  dam  was  Romp,  a  full  sister 
to  Miller's  Damsel,  by  Messenger.  On  his  dam's  side  he  has  some 
Arabian  and  thorough-bred  blood  that  shows  in  the  style  and  form 
of  his  colts.  See  Table  IV. 

The  Pilots,  another  Kentucky  family,  are  descended  from  the 
Old  Pacer  Pilot,  and  are  best  represented  by  one  of  his  sons, 
Alexander's  Pilot,  Jr.,  and  his  descendants.  Pilot,  Jr.,  owned  by 
R.  A.  Alexander,  Lexington,  Ky.,  is  a  black,  and  was  foaled  about 
1845.  His  dam  was  Nancy  Pope,  by  Havoc,  a  grandson  of  Diomed, 
and  thus  he  takes  the  trotting  from  both  sides,  and  in  excellent 
combination.  (See  pedigree,  in  the  pedigree  of  Mambrino  Pilot, 
Table  II.)  He  is  the  sire  of  John  Morgan,  Jim  Rockey,  Tackey, 
Pilot  Temple,  Dixie,  Tattler,  and  many  more.  John  Morgan  was 
the  closest  competitor  of  Flora  Temple  in  her  best  days,  and  every 
way  one  of  the  best  trotters  in  the  country.  His  dam  was  by 
Medoc,  a  son  of  American  Eclipse,  and  he  thus  had  another  cross 
of  Diomed,  and  one  of  Messenger.  Tackey  has  trotted  in  2m. 
28s. ;  Pilot  Temple,  out  of  the  dam  of  Flora  Temple,  trotted  in 
1868  in  2m.  31s. ;  Jim  Rockey  trotted  in  1859  in  2m.  32s.;  and 
Tattler,  5  years  old,  trotted  in  1868  in  2m.  26s.,  a  performance 
that  probably  has  never  been  equalled  by  any  horse  of  the  same 
age.  The  famous  twenty-miler,  John  Stewart,  is  a  descendant  of 
Old  Pilot,  through  Tom  Wonder  and  Tom  Crowder — the  last,  a 
son  of  the  old  pacer. 

A  modern  family,  that  rivals  the  Hambletonians,  is  composed  of 
the  descendants  of  Mambrino  Chief — a  horse  that  was  bred  in  the 
East,  and  taken  to  Kentucky  by  James  B.  Clay  in  1854,  where 
he  died  in  1861.  His  sire  was  Mambrino  Paymaster,  by  Mam- 
brino, the  best  son  of  Messenger  in  the  trotting  line.  (See  pedi- 
grees of  Lady  Thorn  and  Mambrino  Pilot,  Tables  IV.  and  IX.) 
His  fast  progeny  is  very  numerous  and  very  famous,  and  includes 
Lady  Thorn,  Bay  Chief,  Mambrino  Pilot,  Ericsson,  Mambrino 
Patchen,  Brignoli,  Kentucky  Chief,  Ashland,  &c. 

Lady  Thorn  stands  first  among  all  trotters  now  in  public,  and 
second  only  to  Dexter  and  Flora  Temple.  Her  pedigree  and  her 
performances  are  in  perfect  accord ;  the  speed  and  bottom  both 
represented  by  three  lines  of  descent  from  Messenger,  and  three 
from  Diomed  ;  herself  almost  thorough-bred. 

Bay  Chief,  unfortunately  shot  by  guerrillas,  trotted  half  a  mile 


484  THE  HORSE. 

when  4  years  old  in  1m.  8s.,  a  performance  rarely  equalled  at  any 
age.  Ericsson  trotted  at  4  years  old  in  2m.  30£s.,  to  a  wagon,  and 
is  now  at  the  head  of  the  large  breeding  stud  of  K.  C.  Barker, 
Detroit,  Mich.  Brignoli,  at  5  years  old,  trotted  two-mile  heats  in 
harness  in  5m.  20£s.,  5m.  18£s  ,  and  5m.  17is.  Mambrino  Patchen 
is  a  full  brother  of  Lady  Thorn,  and  wretchedly  misnamed,  being 
related  to  Patchen  only  in  a  remote  degree,  though  both  inherit- 
ing largely  the  Messenger  blood. 

The  most  distinguished  son  of  Mambrino  Chief,  is  Mambrino 
Pilot,  owned  by  C.  P.  Relf,  of  Norristown,  Pa. ;  and,  though  foaled 
so  lately  as  1859,  is  already  distinguished  as  a  sire  of  trotters.  He 
is  a  brown  of  large  size  and  pony  built,  faultless  in  form  and  action, 
with  an  air  of  majesty  in  every  attitude.  At  6  years  old,  with 
very  short  preparation,  he  trotted  against  time  in  2m.  27s.  He 
inherits  the  blood  of  Messenger  through  three  channels,  and  of 
Diomed  through  two,  with  a  cross  of  Old  Pilot,  through  his  best 
son,  Pilot,  Jr. 

Considering  that  his  oldest  colts  are  but  5  years  old,  and  that 
when  those  now  old  enough  to  show  speed  were  begotten,  he  had 
not  made  his  reputation,  and  did  not  receive  the  best  of  trotting 
mares,  the  number  and  speed  of  his  fast  colts  is  truly  astonishing. 

Gift,  ch.  g.,  received  five  forfeits  at  4  years  old,  and  challenged 
through  the  "  Spirit  of  the  Times"  any  colt  of  the  same  age,  to 
trot  in  harness  for  $1000  a  side,  without  being  accepted.  Bell- 
ringer,  b.  s.,  trotted  in  2m.  40s.  before  he  was  4  years  old.  Grift 
and  Bellringer  both  belong  to  Mr.  Relf.  Cranston,  owned  by 
Amasa  Sprague,  R.  I.,  at  3  years  old,  trotted  the  second  mile  in 
a  two-mile  heat  in  2m.  40Js.  Vosburgh,  ch.  s.,  the  property  of 
A.  &  T.  H.  Carpenter,  of  Lyons,  Iowa,  when  just  3  years  old, 
trotted  several  times  in  2m.  40s.,  and  challenged  any  other  horse 
in  the  world  of  the  same  age,  to  trot  for  any  amount,  at  4  years 
old,  in  September  1869.  Charles  S.  Dole,  of  Chicago,  111.,  has  a 
chestnut  mare  in  his  breeding  stud,  by  Mambrino  Pilot,  that  in 
the  management  of  Dr.  Kerr,  of  Lexington,  Ky.,  trotted  in  3m. 
at  2  years  old.  Eschol,  Detective,  Etta,  Agitator,  and  Mambrino 
Messenger  are  other  fast  colts  of  the  same  family. 

Horsemen  have  been  looking  among  the  coming  stallions  for  a 
successor  to  the  renowned  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian,  whose  age 
must  soon  end  his  usefulness ;  and  if  the  colts  of  Mambrino  Pilot 
keep  the  early  promise,  and  improve  with  maturity,  as  his  remark- 
able pedigree  and  performances  seem  to  justify  us  in  expecting, 
then  is  a  successor  of  even  greater  merit  already  indicated. 

There  are  many  good  trotting  foal  getters  in  the  country  not 
named  in  these  allusions  to  the  families  of  trotters.  To  mention 
half  of  them  individually  would  be  beyond  the  scope  and  limits 
of  this  Essay,  but  most  of  them  belong  to  some  of  the  families3 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE.  485 

named.  The  object  is  not  so  much  to  instruct  the  reader  in  facts 
as  in  principles.  There  is  a  very  prevalent  opinion  that  trotters 
are  chance  horses,  and  that  there  is  no  certainty  in  breeding  for 
them.  So  prevalent  was  this  opinion  a  few  years  ago,  that  then 
trotters  were  chance  horses,  no  well  directed  effort  was  made  to 
produce  the  desired  result,  by  applying  the  same  principles  of 
breeding  that  had  been  so  long  acknowledged  in  the  breeding  of 
thorough-breds  for  running  races.  But  when  trotting  became  more 
popular  as  a  public  amusement,  when  the  value  of  good  trotting 
horses  for  road  driving  became  more  fully  appreciated,  and  when 
the  increased  demand  ran  the  prices  of  even  good  roadsters  into 
the  thousands,  enlightened  breeders  began  to  apply  to  the  breeding 
of  trotters  the  laws  of  hereditary  descent,  that  had  been  discovered 
in  the  breeding  of  other  animals,  and  with  the  usual  result. 

Now  there  are  numerous  large  breeding  establishments  in  Ken- 
tucky, New  York,  Iowa,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Illinois, 
Michigan,  and  perhaps  some  other  states,  in  which  especial  atten- 
tion is  given  to  breeding  trotters.  Beside  these  breeding  studs, 
where  much  care  and  judgment  are  used  in  the  matter,  there  are 
thousands  of  farmers  and  others  who  in  breeding  horses,  always 
have  in  their  minds  the  possibility  of  drawing  a  capital  prize  in 
the  shape  of  a  fast  trotter ;  but  who  have  never  had  an  opportunity 
to  be  well  informed  in  regard  to  the  best  method  of  accomplishing 
that  desirable  result. 

These  farmers  and  others  who  only  rear  one  or  two  colts  a  year, 
each,  are  in  the  aggregate  the  great  horse  breeders  of  the  country; 
and  it  is  to  them  chiefly  that  the  facts  and  arguments  of  this 
essay  are  addressed. 

A  very  slight  examination  of  the  pedigrees  of  distinguished 
trotters,  will  show  their  relationship  to  each  other  in  so  many  cases, 
that  no  one  can  doubt  the  derivation  of  their  trotting  speed  from 
a  common  ancestry.  A  few  tabulated  pedigrees  are  given  at  the  end 
of  this  essay,  to  facilitate  the  examination  of  them,  and  to  more  fully 
impress  on  the  minds  of  breeders  the  importance  of  breeding  their 
mares  to  stallions  of  good  families,  if  they  would  reasonably  expect 
success.  A  horse  may  trot  fast  enough  to  make  a  public  reputation, 
and  never  beget  fast  colts,  because  he  does  not  himself  inherit  the 
quality  strongly  from  his  ancestors;  for  it  may  be  that  the  quality 
comes  down  to  him  through  a  single  line  of  descent,  and  perhaps 
that  has  been  broken  by  one  or  more  generations  that  showed  no 
speed.  In  such  a  case,  the  horse  would  be  said  to  have  "  bred 
back"  to  a  speedy  ancestor,  and  though  he  might  beget  fast  colts 
with  fast  mares,  the  probabilities  of  their  being  fast  from  common 
mares  would  be  very  small.  John  Henry,  a  chestnut  stallion,  bred 
in  Salem  county,  New  Jersey,  trotted  well,  and  begot  many  colts ; 
but  the  best  of  them  all,  Bob  Johnson,  was  nothing  remarkable 
41* 


486  THE  HORSE. 

John  Henry  had  not  the  trotting  quality  by  a  long  and  continuous 
line  of  hereditary  descent,  and  hence  the  disappointment  of  breed- 
ers, who  depended  on  his  speed  alone  to  give  the  trotting  to  his 
colts.  Similar  cases  are  quite  common. 

If  a  mare  that  cannot  trot  better  than  four  minutes  was  by  a 
horse  of  good  speed  and  good  pedigree,  such  as  Mambrino  Chief, 
or  American  Star,  the  probabilities  of  her  breeding  a  fast  colt  by 
some  other  good  horse,  as  by  Hambletonian,  would  be  much  greater 
than  if  she  had  no  trotting  ancestor  in  her  pedigree.  Such  a  mare, 
though  not  fast  herself,  might  produce  a  fast  colt  from  a  common 
horse ;  or  if  she  did  not  herself  produce  anything  smart,  some  of 
her  descendants  in  the  next  generation  might  show  speed.  This 
is  called  breeding  back,  or  atavism,  and  all  breeders  are  familiar 
with  it. 

In  choosing  a  stallion  to  breed  from  for  speed,  the  first  thing  to 
be  considered  is  his  pedigree.  Many  breeders  will  differ  from  that 
opinion,  but  it  is  not  hastily  expressed.  The  longer  the  lines  of 
trotting  descent  in  his  pedigree,  and  the  more  numerous  they  are, 
the  greater  will  be  the  probability  that  his  colts  will  inherit  the 
desired  quality. 

Next  to  pedigree  should  be  considered  the  speed,  bottom,  health, 
size,  style,  color,  &c.  If  the  pedigree  is  good  and  the  horse  sound, 
he  will  beget  fast  colts,  though  he  may  not  himself  be  fast;  but 
if  he  has  the  speed,  too.  so  much  the  better.  Many  diseases  are 
hereditary,  and  the  stallion  should  be  sound ;  it  is  poor  policy  to 
breed  from  a  horse  with  contracted  feet,  spavin,  ringbone,  sprung 
knees,  or  weak  eyes. 

In  breeding  for  speed,  it  should  be  remembered  that  size  is 
important  if  the  colt  turns  out  fast,  and  still  more  if  he  does  not. 
If  he  is  large  enough  for  taking  a  carriage  with  two  persons  over 
common  roads  at  a  lively  gait,  the  breeding  was  not  a  failure, 
though  he  may  not  be  very  fast.  The  style  and  color  are  matters 
of  taste,  about  which  each  breeder  will  make  his  own  choice.  It 
is  generally  admitted  that  a  good  horse  is  always  the  right  color, 
but  he  might  sometimes  be  equally  good  and  a  better  color.  If 
the  mare  has  any  particular  defect,  a  horse  should  be  chosen  that 
will  correct  it  in  the  progeny. 

Much  speculation  has  been  indulged  in  concerning  the  relative 
influence  of  the  sire  and  dam  on  the  offspring.  By  some  it  has 
been  asserted  that  if  either  parent  is  more  vigorous  than  the  other 
by  reason  of  youth,  health,  or  better  care,  the  offspring  will  most 
resemble  that  parent.  This  theory  is  not  sustained  by  facts.  In 
crossing  the  horse  and  the  ass,  some  facts  of  interest  are  elicited. 
The  mule  takes  size  from  its  dam,  the  mare ;  but  takes  its  outward 
form  and  its  voice  from,  the  sire,  the  ass.  The  ears  are  long,  the 
tail  and  mane  are  scantily  furnished  with  hair,  and  the  feet  are 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE.  487 

narrow.  But  if  the  female  ass  is  bred  to  a  horse,  the  produce, 
called  a  hinny,  is  quite  unlike  the  mule.  It  inherits  its  organiza- 
tion by  the  same  law,  and  has  the  small  size  of  its  dam,  the  female 
ass,  with  ears,  feet,  mane,  tail,  and  voice  like  its  sire,  the  horse. 

Now  these  statements,  though  correct  in  a  general  sense,  need 
some  qualification.  The  ears  of  the  mule  are  not  as  long  as  its 
sire's  in  proportion  to  the  body,  the  feet  are  not  as  narrow,  the  tail 
and  mane  are  not  so  scantily  supplied  with  hair.  In  all  the  points 
of  greatest  resemblance  to  the  ass,  there  is  still  some  resemblance 
to  the  other  parent,  the  mare.  In  other  words,  the  mule  does  not 
take  any  part  of  its  conformation  from  either  parent  alone ;  but 
every  part  is  like  both  parents  in  some  degree.  The  same  remarks 
apply  to  the  hinny.  Its  mane,  tail,  ears,  and  feet  are  more  like  a 
horse's  than  a  mule's  are,  but  not  exactly  like  a  horse's.  In  every 
part  of  its  body  it  has  some  resemblance  to  the  ass,  its  dam.  The 
point  established  is  this  : — That  the  mule  and  the  hinny  both  take 
their  outward  form  and  appearance  from  their  respective  sires 
more  than  from  their  dams ;  but  neither  of  them  is  exactly  like 
either  parent  in  any  respect. 

These  facts  are  constant  when  the  two  species  are  bred  together, 
and  the  produce  is  a  hybrid ;  and  we  might  infer  that  some  cer- 
tainty was  attainable  in  the  same  direction  when  animals  of  the 
same  species  are  bred  together,  as  in  breeding  horses.  That  is,  we 
might  expect  the  colt  to  always  inherit  its  ears,  mane,  tail,  and 
feet  more  from  the  horse  than  from  the  mare.  The  rule  may  apply 
to  some  extent,  but  it  is  not  to  be  relied  on  with  anything  like  the 
certainty  that  is  observed  in  breeding  the  horse  and  ass  together. 
Rat-tailed  stallions  beget  rat-tailed  colts,  and  hoof-bound  mares 
have  colts  inheriting  the  same  tendency  to  disease  of  the  feet. 

Every  part  of  every  offspring  partakes  of  the  quality  of  both 
parents  in  some  degree ;  and  in  the  present  state  of  our  knowledge, 
we  can  neither  control  nor  foresee  the  amount  of  any  particular 
quality  that  the  offspring  will  inherit  from  either  parent. 

In  a  family  of  children,  one  may  be  tall  like  the  father  and  have 
black  hair  like  the  mother ;  another  may  be  short  like  the  mother 
with  light  hair  like  the  father;  and  a  third  may  have  stature  and 
complexion  that  partake  more  evenly  of  the  qualities  of  both 
parents.  If  three  more  children  are  to  be  born  to  the  same 
parents,  no  physiologist  can  predict  their  stature  nor  the  color  of 
their-  hair.  If  parents  are  much  alike  in  all  respects,  the  children 
will  be  much  alike ;  but  the  children  of  the  same  family  will  be 
much  diversified  in  appearance  and  character  if  their  parents  are 
much  different  from  each  other  in  these  respects.  If  parents  are 
alike  in  any  particular,  though  different  in  all  other  respects,  their 
children  will  all  inherit  that  quality  strongly  which  comes  from 
both  parents,  and  will  transmit  it  to  the  next  generation  with 


488  THE   HORSE. 

greater  certainty  than  if  they  had  inherited  it  from  only  one  parent. 
Of  course  these  rules  may  all  have  exceptions  ;  atavism,  or  breed- 
ing back,  may  modify  the  results. 

If  one  parent  belongs  to  a  particular  breed,  as  a  cow  to  the 
Devonshires,  and  is  bred  with  another  of  no  particular  breed,  the 
offspring  will  resemble  the  full-bred  parent  more  than  the  other 
of  common  stock,  because  the  form,  color,  &c.,  of  the  full-bred 
parent  have  become  fixed  by  a  long  line  of  ancestry  in  which  all 
the  ancestors  had  the  same  qualities.  It  does  not  follow  that  the 
full-bred  parent  gives  more  than  half  of  the  quality  to  the  off- 
spring, but  only  that  the  other  half  may  resemble  some  of  the 
ancestors  of  common  stock  that  were  quite  unlike  the  low-bred 
parent.  Thus,  if  a  Devonshire  cow  were  bred  to  a  common  bull 
of  a  white  color,  more  of  the  calves  would  be  red  than  white, 
because  all  the  ancestors  on  the  cow's  side  were  red,  and  a  part  of 
them  on  the  bull's  side  were  probably  of  the  same  color.  As  many 
as  bred  back  to  the  Devonshire  side  for  color  would  be  red ;  those 
that  bred  back  to  the  common  side  for  color  might  be  black,  or 
brindle,  or  any  other  color.  It  is  simply  a  case  in  which  atavism 
has  an  influence,  as  it  always  has  in  all  breeding.  There  is  no 
law  by  which  a  high-bred  parent  transmits  more  than  half  of  the 
organism  of  the  offspring;  the  low-bred  parent  has  an  equal  influ 
ence  in  the  matter;  but  there  is  more  probability  that  the  progeny 
will  resemble  the  high-bred  parent  than  the  common  one.  If  by 
atavism  it  resembles  any  ancestor  on  the  well-bred  side,  it  resem- 
bles the  parent  on  the  same  side,  for  they  are  all  much  alike;  but 
if  it  breeds  back  to  the  low-bred  side,  there  has  been  so  much 
diversity  in  the  ancestors  on  that  side  that  nothing  is  certain. 

In  breeding  for  trotters,  these  principles  must  always  be  con- 
sidered. We  have  no  breed  of  trotters  that  can  be  called  tho- 
rough-bred or  full-blooded  trotters,  in  the  same  sense  as  we  speak 
of  the  thorough-bred  race  horse,  or  of  the  thorough-bred  Durham 
or  Devonshire  cattle ;  but  we  have  families  of  trotters,  in  which 
the  trotting  quality  has  been  transmitted  for  several  generations, 
and  in  several  lines  of  descent;  and,  in  breeding,  the  best  practice 
will  be  that  which  most  nearly  conforms  to  the  principles  here 
stated  The  more  trotting  quality  in  the  family,  the  greater  the 
probability  of  its  being  transmitted  to  the  descendants. 

In  choosing  a  mare  to  breed  from,  the  same  rules  are  applicable 
as  in  choosing  a  stallion.  If  a  breeder  chance  to  have  a  mare  of 
good  speed  and  good  pedigree,  he  may  expect  more  from  her  than 
from  a  common  mare  if  both  are  put  to  the  same  horse.  It  is 
somewhat  the  fashion  to  select  thorough-bred  mares  to  breed  to 
trotting  stallions,  that  the  spirit  and  endurance  of  the  thorough- 
bred may  be  combined  in  the  colts  with  the  trotting  action ;  and 
trotting  mares  are  put  to  thorough-bred  stallions  with  the  same 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE. 


489 


object  in  view.  The  practice  is  good,  and  will  improve  the  breed 
of  trotters  in  the  long  run  j  but  for  immediate  results,  more  trot- 
ting speed  may  be  expected  when  trotting  mares  are  bred  to  trot- 
ting stallions.  It  should  not  be  disregarded  that  we  already  have 
trotting  families  quite  equal  to  thorough-breds  in  spirit  and  bot- 
tom ]  and  though  these  may  have  been  inherited  from  a  thorough- 
bred ancestry,  that  is  not  a  reason  why  we  should  breed  again  to 
thorough-breds  and  risk  the  loss  of  the  trotting  quality.  The 
famous  trotter  Flora  Temple  was  frequently  put  to  Mambrino 


FLORA  TEMPLE. 


Pilot  without  success,  but  she  became  with  foal  by  a  two-year  old. 
Old  mares  will  often  breed  to  a  colt  when  they  will  not  to  a  ma- 
tured horse.  The  colt  selected  on  this  occasion  was  Rysdyk,  by 
Rysdyk's  Hambletonian,  out  of  a  thorough-bred  mare  by  Lexing- 
ton. Now,  this  dam  of  Rysdyk  had  no  trotting  quality,  and  he  is 
just  as  likely  to  inherit  running  speed  from  his  dam  as  trotting 
speed  from  his  sire.  Or  he  may  take  the  trotting  action  from  his 
sire  and  have  that  action  made  good  by  the  Lexington  side  of  his 
pedigree — Lexington  being  the  sire  of  more  winners  in  running 


490  THE  HORSE. 

races  than  any  other  horse  in  America.  But  the  probability  is 
strong  that  Rysdyk  will  not  be  very  speedy,  though  he  will  proba- 
bly have  good  bottom,  and  still  stronger  that  his  colts  out  of  Flore 
will  not  equal  their  celebrated  dam. 

Flora  Temple's  pedigree  is  not  very  well  known,  but  this  much 
appears  to  be  reliable  :  Her  sire  was  One-Eyed  Kentucky  Hun- 
ter,  he  by  Kentucky  Hunter,  the  sire  of  the  famous  pacer  Oneida 
Chief.  Her  dam,  Madam  Temple,  was  by  a  spotted  horse  called 
an  Arabian,  though  he  probably  was  not.  That  her  trotting  way 
inherited  from  her  sire's  side  is  quite  certain,  and  her  dam  also 
may  have  added  something,  as  she  afterward  produced  a  very  good 
trotter,  Pilot  Temple,  but  he  was  by  a  very  good  horse,  Alexan- 
der's Pilot,  Jr.  Though  Flora  Temple  has  enough  in  her  pedigree; 
so  far  as  known,  to  account  for  her  trotting,  the  probability  of 
speed  in  her  colts  by  Rysdyk  is  not  very  great.  It  is  a  pity  she 
would  not  breed  to  Mambrino  Pilot,  that  any  deficiency  in  her  own 
pedigree  might  have  been  made  up  by  his  extraordinary  good 
breeding.  The  portrait  of  Flora  Temple  and  her  colt,  facing  the 
title  page,  is  from  a  photograph,  and  gives  a  very  good  idea  of 
them  as  they  appear  in  their  winter  coats. 

The  effect  on  offspring  of  breeding  blood  relations  together, 
called  breeding  in-and-in,  is  a  matter  that  has  received  much  atten- 
tion from  breeders  and  physiologists;  and  these  two  classes  of 
observers  have  arrived  at  somewhat  different  conclusions  about  it ; 
the  physiologists  condemning  the  practice  among  human  beings, 
the  breeders  approving  of  it  among  domestic  stock.  As  the  same 
laws  govern  all  nature,  this  difference  of  opinion  must  grow  out  of 
an  imperfect  knowledge  of  the  law,  and  might  be  reconciled  by  a 
more  comprehensive  view  of  the  facts  relating  to  the  subject. 

When  blood-relations  intermarry,  the  children  are  often  imper- 
fect, being  idiotic,  or  blind,  or  scrofulous ;  or  if  they  escape  these 
and  a  host  of  other  ills  that  in-bred  flesh  is  heir  to,  they  are  sel- 
dom so  healthy  and  strong  in  mind  and  body  as  their  parents  were. 

This  is  too  well  known  to  admit  of  a  doubt,  though,  happily, 
the  evil  consequences  of  such  intermarriages  are  not  always  notice- 
able in  such  unpleasant  forms.  On  the  other  hand,  many  good 
horses  have  been  the  result  of  close  in-and-in  breeding.  By  refer- 
ring to  the  pedigree  of  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian,  Table  I.,  it  will 
be  seen  that  Abdallah  was  by  Mambrino,  out  of  his  half-sister ; 
Hambletonian  was  by  Messenger,  out  of  one  of  his  own  daugh- 
ters; and  One-Eye  was  by  in-bred  Hambletonian,  out  of  his  half- 
sister.  Then  comes  one  out-cross  with  Bellfounder,  and  again  the 
offspring  of  that  cross,  the  Charles  Kent  Mare,  is  bred  to  in- 
bred Abdallah  of  the  same  stock.  The  result  was  a  stallion  that 
has  for  several  years  stood  at  the  head  of  the  list  of  trotting  foal 
getters. 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE.  491 

How  are  these  two  classes  of  facts  to  be  reconciled?  The 
theory  that  gregarious  animals — animals  that,  like  horses,  cattle, 
and  sheep,  go  naturally  in  herds — are  an  exception  to  the  rule  that 
in-breeding  is  attended  by  debility  in  the  offspring,  is  not  very 
satisfactory.  It  cannot  be  true,  as  has  been  asserted,  that  in  a 
wild  state  one  stallion  would  keep  his  own  herd  of  mares  and  all 
of  his  own  female  progeny  to  himself  for  several  years,  and  that 
hence  breeding  with  his  own  offspring  would  be  in  accordance 
with  Nature's  plan.  In  a  wild  state  there  would  be  as  many 
males  as  females ;  his  herd  of  mares  would  be  but  one  or  two ; 
half  of  his  offspring  would  be  males ;  they  would  each  contend 
for  and  obtain  some  sexual  opportunities ;  the  fillies  of  one  sire 
would  naturally  be  squandered  everywhere  among  other  herds 
before  they  were  old  enough  to  breed;  and  all  the  conditions 
would  favor  continual  out-crossing  rather  than  in-breeding.  Pigs 
are  gregarious,  and  in-breeding  spoils  the  breed  of  them  in  one 
generation.  No  matter  how  near  the  hog-breeder  has  brought  his 
stock  to  perfection,  one  single  in-breeding  spoils  all.  In  chickens, 
if  in-breeding  is  continued  for  several  years,  the  first  noticeable 
result  is  their  increased  productiveness  of  eggs.  The  stock  be- 
comes smaller  and  more  delicate  with  each  successive  in-breeding ; 
and  all  weakly  animals  are  more  prolific  than  stronger  ones,  hence 
the  increased  number  of  eggs.  When  the  conditions  of  life  de- 
press and  retard  the  development  of  plants  or  animals,  they  become 
more  prolific  because  their  offspring  will  come  into  being  under 
circumstances  unfavorable  to  the  continuance  of  their  existence, 
and  Nature  equalizes  the  chances  by  producing  more  of  them. 
It  is  in  accordance  with  this  law  that  fat  animals  and  idle  animals 
are  not  sure  to  breed  j  that  families  living  luxuriously  for  a  few 
generations  have  very  few  children,  while  those  that  "  live  from 
hand  to  mouth"  are  proverbially  fruitful — u  A  fool  for  luck,  and 
a  poor  man  for  children."  The  chickens  are  more  prolific  for  a 
few  generations,  but  continue  the  in-breeding,  and  they  become 
so  very  weakly  and  small  that  the  experiment  will  end  in  a  good 
out-cross.  If  it  were  continued  longer  in  the  same  direction,  the 
result  would  probably  be  the  extinction  of  the  stock. 

Hainbletonian,  Plato,  and  Abdallah,  the  in-bred  descendants 
of  Messenger,  were  remarkable  for  giving  the  trotting  quality  to 
their  descendants.  Taking  Messenger  as  a. single  source  of  the 
trotting  quality,  and  supposing  there  was  not  another  horse  in  the 
country  above  mediocrity  in  that  respect,  we  might  expect  some 
of  his  fillies  to  inherit  his  trotting  in  great  degree.  To  perpetuate 
that  particular  quality  in  her  offspring,  it  would  be  better  to  breed 
her  to  her  sire  than  to  any  horse  of  another  stock,  though  her 
offspring  might  lose  something  in  stamina  by  the  in-breeding.  It 
might  be  still  better  to  breed  her  to  any  son  of  Messenger  that 


492  THE  HORSE. 

also,  equally  with  herself,  inherited  the  trotting  quality.  In 
either  case,  her  colts  would  take  the  trotting  from  two  directions, 
and  would  consequently  transmit  it  with  more  certainty  to  their 
descendants  than  if  they  inherited  it  from  only  one  side.  The 
trotting  quality  was  a  peculiarity  of  Messenger,  and  by  in-breeding 
it  was  perpetuated ;  so  would  any  other  peculiarity  have  been — 
any  imperfection.  If  Messenger  had  been  lop-eared,  that  quality 
could  have  been  perpetuated  in  the  same  way ;  but  as  breeders 
would  not  choose  his  lop-eared  colts  to  breed  from,  and  would 
choose  his  perfect  colts,  the  desirable  qualities  of  the  stock  could 
be,  and  would  be,  perpetuated,  and  the  defects  would  become 
extinguished  from  his  family. 

The  purpose  of  in-breeding  the  Messenger  family  was  not,  at 
first,  to  produce  trotters ;  but  the  result  followed  without  regard 
to  the  intention.  Whatever  loss  of  stamina  accompanied  the 
practice  was  remedied  by  out-crossing,  and  the  trotting  was  still 
preserved  by  careful  selection. 

Taking  this  view  of  the  subject,  we  see  how  the  perpetuation 
of  any  particular  quality  may  be  effected  by  in-breeding,  and  how, 
also,  the  evils  of  the  practice  may  be  to  a  great  extent  avoided. 
It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  Messenger  was  remarkably  free 
from  defects,  and  had  so  much  strength  of  constitution  that  his 
descendants  from  good  mares  might  be  in-bred  and  still  give  good 
constitutions  to  their  offspring.  It  was  because  of  this  excellence 
that  the  in-breeding  was  practised.  Not  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
producing in  the  progeny  any  particular  quality,  but  with  a  desire 
to  get  as  much  as  possible  of  the  general  characteristics  of  a  horse 
recognised  as  greatly  superior  to  all  others  in  the  same  vicinity. 
The  same  reasons  that  induced  to  the  practice  made  it  physiologi- 
cally safe. 

Now  let  us  suppose  that  another  equally  good  trotting  family 
had  existed  at  the  same  time  and  place,  and  that  instead  of  breed- 
ing Messenger's  descendants  together  closely  they  had  been  crossed 
with  the  other  family.  The  result  would  have  been  equal  speed, 
with  equal  power  of  transmitting  it  to  offspring,  and  better  con- 
stitutions. There  came  to  this  country  another  thorough-bred, 
that  was  foaled  in  England  one  year  before  Messenger,  and  died 
here,  one  year  before  Messenger  died.  His  name  was  Diomed, 
and  a  reference  to  the  tabulated  pedigrees  will  show  how  much 
many  of  our  best  trotters  are  indebted  to  him  for  their  speed. 
He  was  not  brought  to  this  country  until  he  was  twenty-two  years 
old,  and  was  kept  in  Virginia,  while  Messenger  was  in  the  North. 
Diomed's  colts  were  nearly  all  thorough-breds,  and  used  for  run- 
ning, not  trotting.  Trotting  did  not  become  so  highly  valued  in 
the  South,  and  how  much  trotting  quality  the  immediate  descend- 
ants of  Diomed  possessed  was  not  known.  The  best  results  have 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE.  493 

followed  breeding  the  two  families  together  after  several  genera- 
tions of  descent ;  and  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  that  if  Diomed 
had  come  with  Messenger  to  this  country,  and  had  stood  some- 
where near  Philadelphia  or  New  York,  instead  of  coming  seven- 
teen years  later,  and  standing  in  Virginia,  the  two  families  would 
have  been  inter-bred  sooner.  Two  good  results  would  have 
attended  :  first,  all  the  advantage  of  breeding  trotters  with  trotters 
without  the  disadvantage  of  in-breeding;  and,  second,  the  inter- 
breeding of  two  good  trotting  families  before  the  trotting  quality 
was  diluted  by  other  crosses  not  possessing  it.  American  Eclipse, 
who  gave  so  much  trotting  quality  to  his  descendants,  combined 
both  bloods.  See  pedigree  of  Mambrino  Pilot,  Table  II.  Eclipse 
was  known  only  as  a  running  horse,  and  was  one  of  the  very  best 
thbroagh-breds  ever  foaled  in  America.  He  was  equally  distin- 
guished on  the  turf  and  in  the  stud.  Post  Boy,  a  distinguished 
race-horse  that  lived  to  a  great  age,  had  many  trotting  descend- 
ants. He,  too,  combined  the  blood  of  Messenger  and  Diomed. 
See  pedigree  of  Young  Merrill,  Table  V.  All  the  trotting  of 
Morrill  on  his  sire's  side  was  inherited  from  Post  Boy.  Another 
thorough-bred  of  the  same  descent  was  Cock-of-the-Rock.  He 
too  was  a  race-horse  that  begot  trotters.  Golddust  inherits  all 
of  his  trotting  from  him.  See  Table  IV.  These  and  other  simi- 
lar cases  that  might  be  adduced,  show  that  the  produce  of  a  cross 
between  two  trotting  families  has  equal  power  of  transmitting  its 
peculiar  qualities  to  offspring  that  the  produce  of  in-breeding  has. 

In  breeding  two  trotting  families  together,  if  one  has  any  defect 
the  other  may  correct  it,  as  it  is  improbable  that  both  will  have 
the  same  defect ;  but  by  in-breeding  any  defect  of  the  family  will 
be  pretty  surely  perpetuated,  as  the  colt  will  inherit  it  from  both 
sides.  Now  that  we  have  trotters  enough  to  allow  of  a  free  selec- 
tion without  breeding  near  relations  together,  there  are  no  reasons 
why  the  practice  should  be  continued,  and  many  why  it  should 
not  be. 

The  opinion  is  quite  prevalent  among  breeders,  that  every  horse 
a  mare  is  bred  to  modifies,  not  only  his  own  get,  but  all  the  colts 
she  may  afterwards  have  by  any  other  horses.  Without  denying 
the  facts  set  forth  in  the  body  of  this  book  by  Stonehenge,  of  a 
mare  that  had  colts  by  a  horse,  and  that  they  resembled  the 
quagga  she  was  first  bred  to,  I  am  prepared  to  assert  that  no  such 
effects  are  commonly  noticed  when  mares  are  bred  to  different 
stallions.  I  have  looked  for  such  results  in  various  species  of  ani- 
mals— the  human  included — and  could  never  detect  the  slightest 
resemblance  in  the  offspring  of  one  sire  to  any  other  sire  the  dam 
had  previously  borne  offspring  to.  Practically,  the  theory  is  of  no 
value  whatever.  Another  notion,  about  equally  common,  is,  that 
a  mare  that  has  bred  a  mule  will  not  breed  to  a  horse.  It  is 
42 


494  THE  HORSE. 

equally  unfounded.  Mares  are  often  bred  to  norses  after  having 
been  bred  to  an  ass,  and  nobody  ever  sees  a  foal  by  a  horse  from 
such  a  mare  look  like  a  mule.  I  have  known  several  instances  of 
white  women  having  mulatto  children,  and  afterwards  having 
children  by  white  men  j  and  in  no  instance  was  the  influence  of 
the  negro  perceptible  on  the  child  of  the  Caucasian  father.  If 
any  man  has  a  good  mare  that  has  produced  a  colt  from  a  scrub 
stallion,  he  need  not  hesitate,  on  that  account,  to  breed  her  to  a 
good  horse,  if  he  has  an  opportunity. 

Breeders  often  desire  that  a  colt  shall  be  a  male,  or  a  female ; 
but  that  is  always  left  to  chance  for  the  best  of  reasons.  It  is 
probably  possible,  however,  to  discover  the  laws  governing  the 
production  of  sex,  and  also  possible  to  so  control  their  action  as  to 
attain  the  desired  result.  Some  chance  experiments  in  breeding 
dogs,  so  long  ago  as  1845,  induced  me  to  a  more  careful  investiga- 
tion of  the  subject.  I  discovered,  that  if  a  slut  were  kept  until 
near  the  last  of  her  heat,  before  a  dog  was  admitted  to  her,  the 
pups  would  be  chiefly  males ;  but  if  she  were  at  large,  with  all 
the  dogs  of  the  neighborhood,  from  the  beginning  of  the  heat, 
they  would  be  mostly  females.  Further  experiments,  and  on 
other  species  of  animals,  were  prevented  by  removal  to  a  city ;  but 
having  called  public  attention  to  the  matter,  in  lectures  on  physi- 
ology in  several  states,  others  have  pursued  the  investigation  with 
very  satisfactory  results.  Dog-breeders  make  practical  application 
of  the  discovery  in  hundreds  of  instances,  and  a  few  dairy-men 
have  found  it  applicable  to  cows.  The  theory  is,  that  if  the  female 
is  long  in  heat  before  conception,  it  implies  a  scarcity  of  males, 
and  Nature  supplies  the  deficiency  by  producing  them.  I  also 
noticed  that  if  a  cock  had  many  hens,  the  chicks  would  be  mostly 
males.  This  I  had  but  one  opportunity  of  observing.  The  single 
observation,  however,  is  in  conformity  with  the  same  law.  Apply- 
ing the  law  to  horses,  it  would  follow  that,  other  things  being 
equal,  the  more  mares  he  served  in  one  season,  the  more  of  his 
colts  would  be  males.  The  action  of  the  law  would  be  modified 
by  the  time  of  the  mare's  heat  when  put  to  him,  and  by  the  cir- 
cumstance that  his  sire,  his  grandsire,  and  so  on,  for  many  genera- 
tions, had  been  used  to  serving  many  mares  in  one  season — so  that 
the  power  to  do  so  without  forcing  the  action  of  the  law  would 
have  become  hereditary.  If  the  mare  were  served  in  the  begin- 
ning of  her  heat,  we  might  expect  a  mare  foal ;  and  if  in  the  last 
part  of  the  erotic  season  we  might,  by  the  same  rule,  expect  a 
horse  foal.  Of  course,  the  conditions  mentioned  as  affecting  the 
stallion  might  modify  the  result.  If  a  mare  were  put  to  a  horse 
in  the  last  part  of  her  heat,  and  if  the  horse  had  quite  recently 
served  one  or  more  other  mares,  the  conditions  would  be  favorable 
on  both  sides  to  the  production  of  a  male  offspring.  If  the  case 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE.  495 

were  reversed — if  she  were  in  the  first  part  of  her  season  of  ex- 
citement, and  he  had  not  served  a  mare  for  a  considerable  time, 
the  conditions  would  favor  the  begetting  of  a  female. 

Many  horsemen  attempt  to  discern  the  speed  of  a  horse  in  his 
form,  and  in  his  way  of  going.  Various  signs  are  relied  on,  by 
those  who  know  less  than  they  think  they  do,  but  there  is  but  one 
sign,  and  it  is  infallible;  it  is  that  the  horse  goes  fast  when  tried. 
A  shoulder  that  slants  well  backward  to  the  withers  is  considered 
a  good  point  in  any  horse — but  Messenger  had  upright  shoulders, 
and  so  have  some  very  good  trotters  of  to-day.  A  long  back,  with 
an  open  flank  between  the  hip  and  ribs,  is  thought  to  allow  of  a 
long  stride,  and  some  good  trotters  have  that  conformation ;  but 
many  others  have  short  backs,  and  are  ribbed  close  up  to  the  hips. 
Of  these  two  forms,  the  last  is  the  best,  as  it  indicates  that  the 
animal  will  keep  in  good  condition  on  less  food.  Flat-sided  horses 
have  trotted  fast,  but  not  because  they  were  flat-sided.  War  Eagle 
had  that  conformation,  and  though  he  trotted  in  the  best  of  com- 
pany, he  was  not  an  all-day  horse.  I  drove  him  a  year  in  a 
country  practice  before  he  trotted  in  public,  and  did  not  consider 
the  narrow  chest  and  small  abdomen  any  advantage.  A  steep 
rump  is  a  sign  that  a  horse  paces ;  but  with  the  same  form  he  may 
be  a  trotter ;  and  in  either  case  it  has  no  relation  to  speed.  The 
hind  legs  may  be  more  crooked  or  more  straight  than  usual,  and 
the  fore  legs  may  be  a  little  sprung  forward,  or  a  little  set  back, 
like  a  calf's  ;  the  pasterns  may  be  thick  or  slender,  upright  or 
oblique;  but  none  of  these  forms  indicate  speed,  nor  the  absence 
of  it.  Many  fast  horses  are  short  in  the  rump — that  is,  from  the 
croup,  or  highest  point,  to  the  root  of  the  tail.  This  is  pretty 
common  among  trotters ;  but  some  that  are  not  fast  have  the  same 
shape. 

In  the  way  of  going,  there  is  as  much  difference  with  as  little 
significance.  Some  lift  their  fore-feet  very  high,  with  a  great 
deal  of  knee  action ;  others  go  fast,  with  a  low,  long  stride.  There 
is  a  way  of  reaching  out  with  the  fore-feet,  that  seems  utterly  in- 
compatible with  speed.  It  is  a  long,  pitching  step,  such  as  is  seen 
in  horses  trotting  slowly  and  loftily  in  a  field  when  startled.  To 
go  fast,  the  fore-feet  should  be  struck  at  the  ground,  as  if  they 
were  pulling  the  horse  along,  whether  the  stride  be  long  or  short. 

If  a  horse  stands  with  the  toes  of  his  fore-feet  turned  in,  he  will 
paddle  in  trotting ;  that  is,  he  will  swing  his  feet  out  right  and 
left  from  a  straight  line ;  and  the  foot  that  is  most  turned  in  at 
the  toe  in  standing  will  be  most  swung  around  like  a  paddle  in  a 
mush-pot,  in  trotting.  The  movement  is  unsightly  and  objection- 
able, but  not  absolutely  incompatible  with  speed.  If  the  toes  are 
turned  out  in  standing,  they  will  be  turned  in  in  trotting,  and  may 
strike  the  opposite  knee.  This  is  so  common  in  fast  trotters,  as  to 


496  THE  HORSE. 

have  received  the  appellation  of  speedy-cut.  It  should  not  be 
inferred,  that  cutting  the  knee  is  any  sign  of  speed.  It  only  hap- 
pens, that  a  horse  with  this  defect  in  his  way  of  going,  hits  his 
knee  when  he  goes  fast  enough  to  get  his  foot  up  that  high.  It 
is  a  serious  objection,  but  many  more  fast  horses  have  that  action 
than  the  opposite  one  of  paddling. 

Nearly  every  good  trotter  goes  with  his  hind-feet  wide  apart, 
when  he  goes  fast.  There  are  some  exceptions  to  this  rule,  but 
they  are  not  numerous.  Some  horses  have  a  short  stride,  and  as 
they  generally  show  plenty  of  knee-action,  and  step  fast,  they  ap- 
pear to  go  very  fast,  and  so  they  do  sometimes.  The  Cannucks,  from 
Canada,  generally  go  in  that  way ;  and  all  of  such  steppers  are 
usually  spirited  and  pleasant  road  horses,  being  free-goers.  Long- 
striders  are  sometimes  rather  heavy  in  a  jog-trot;  but  they  get 
over  the  ground  faster  than  they  appear  to,  and  on  the  road  will 
often  pass  short-steppers  that  appear  to  be  going  as  fast,  or  faster. 
Many  of  the  best  are  long-striders,  and,  other  things  being  equal, 
the  probabilities  are  greater  of  a  horse  going  fast  in  a  long  stride 
than  in  a  short  one. 

Hiram  Woodruff,  in  his  admirable  work  on  "  The  Trotting 
Horse  of  America,"  expresses  the  opinion  that  short-steppers  are 
better  weight-pullers  at  speed,  and  gives  reasons — speculative  rea- 
sons— for  the  opinion  :  but  his  own  instances  do  not  sustain  the 
rule,  unless  we  accept  the  logic,  that  as  exceptions  prove  the  rule, 
the  more  exceptions  the  stronger  the  proof.  The  truth  appears  to 
be,  that  the  ability  to  pull  weight  does  not  depend  much  on  the 
stride.  The  strongest  movers  are  stout,  muscular  horses,  broad 
behind,  with  the  knees  and  hocks  let  well  down ;  that  is,  with 
short  cannon  bones. 

A  horse  may  be  lazy,  and  yet  trot  fast  when  called  on ;  or  he 
may  be  very  spirited,  always  willing  to  do  his  best,  and  not  be 
able  to  trot  in  four  minutes.  A  very  strong  horse,  that  can  trot 
off  with  a  loaded  market-wagon  behind  him  at  a  good  gait,  and 
keep  it  up  for  miles,  may  not  be  a  fast  trotter  at  any  weight.  Or 
a  horse  may  have  most  excellent  bottom — may  take  two  men  in  a 
wagon  over  common  roads  sixty  miles  in  a  day,  and  repeat  it  every 
day  in  the  week ;  or  he  may  be  good  for  ten  miles  an  hour  under 
the  same  circumstances,  and  not  be  able  to  trot  a  single  mile  in 
four  minutes. 

Speed,  then,  does  not  depend  entirely  on  the  form,  nor  on  the 
way  of  going,  nor  on  the  strength,  nor  on  the  spirit  of  a  horse. 
The  value  of  a  fast  trotter  may  depend  greatly  upon  these  quali- 
ties, but  not  his  speed.  Any  form,  and  any  style  of  going,  may 
do,  if  he  can  step  fast  enough ;  and  the  power  to  step  fast  does  not 
depend  on  form,  spirit,  strength,  nor  stamina — though  all  of  these 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE.  497 

do  modify  the  manifestation  of  that  power  upon  which  speed  doer 
depend. 

Let  us  now  consider  the  essential  element  of  speed  at  any  gait, 
whether  it  be  running,  pacing,  or  trotting.  All  the  movement  is 
effected  by  the  contraction  of  those  masses  of  lean  meat  called 
muscles.  The  muscles  of  voluntary  motion  are  each  attached  to 
two  bones  by  its  two  extremities,  and  the  bones  being  attached  to 
each  other  by  a  movable  joint,  when  the  muscle  contracts  one  or 
both  of  the  bones  must  move ;  and,  of  course  the  rapidity  of  the 
movement  depends  on  the  rapidity  of  the  contraction.  An  animal 
wills  the  movement  of  a  limb ;  that  will,  which  originates  in  the 
brain,  is  transmitted  through  nerves  to  the  muscles;  they  contract 
and  the  limb  moves.  It  would  seem,  then,  that  if  a  horse  desired 
to  go  fast,  and  his  muscles  were  large  enough  and  his  joints  supple, 
he  must  needs  do  so  whenever  he  tries;  for  if  the  muscles  obey 
the  will,  and  the  will  is  that  they  shall  contract  quickly,  the  whole 
thing  would  be  accomplished.  Speed  would  then  depend  on  the 
size  of  the  muscles,  and  the  willingness  of  the  horse  to  contract 
them  rapidly.  But  the  facts  are  clearly  against  such  a  theory;  for 
all  have  noticed  that  a  highly  spirited  horse  that  is  very  strong  to 
pull  a  load,  may  not  be  able  to  go  fast  in  any  gait. 

The  truth  is,  that  all  power  to  move,  lies  not  in  the  brain  which 
is  the  seat  of  the  will,  nor  in  the  muscles  which  are  the  place  of 
the  movement,  but  between  the  two,  in  the  spinal  cord,  which 
is  the  centre  of  the  nervous  system,  and  the  generator  of  the 
power.  The  spinal  cord  lies  in  the  back  bone,  filling  the  canal 
or  hole  that  extends  through  its  whole  length,  and  giving  off  nerves 
from  every  part  of  it  that  go  to  all  parts  of  the  body.  It  is  con- 
nected to  the  brain,  and  appears  like  a  prolongation  of  it  from  the 
cavity  of  the  skull  along  the  cavity  of  the  spine ;  but  the  rational 
view  of  the  spinal  cord,  and  the  one  that  is  sustained  by  compara- 
tive anatomy,  is  that  which  considers  it  the  centre  of  the  nervous 
system ;  the  brain  being  an  extension  of  it  in  one  direction,  and 
the  nerves  an  extension  of  it  in  another  direction,  the  whole  con- 
stituting the  nervous  system. 

The  brain  is  the  seat  of  all  mental  manifestations — of  thought, 
memory,  love,  fear,  emulation,  courage,  &c.  The  disposition  and 
character  depend  upon  the  brain,  but  it  is  not  necessary  to  animal 
life.  The  nerves  extend  to  every  part  of  the  body;  some  of  them 
convey  sensations  to  the  brain,  as  of  heat,  or  cold,  or  pain ;  others 
of  them  go  to  the  muscles,  and  convey  to  them  the  power  that  is 
generated  in  the  spinal  cord  by  which  they  contract.  The  will 
to  move  is  conceived  in  the  brain,  and  goes  to  the  spinal  cord, 
which  then  generates  the  power  to  move.  The  power,  which  for 
convenience  of  language  we  will  call  nerve  force,  is  sent  through 
the  nerves  and  expended  in  the  muscles,  effecting  their  contraction 
-'2*  2i 


498  THE  HORSE. 

and  a  consequent  movement  of  the  bones  to  which  they  are 
attached.  The  brain  may  be  compared  to  a  telegraph  operator, 
the  spinal  cord  to  his  galvanic  battery,  and  the  nerves  to  the 
wires..  A  chicken  with  its  head  off  kicks  and  flutters  with  strength 
enough  to  fly  over  a  barn,  or  to  run  around  it.  The  spinal  cord 
generates  the  power  for  a  short  time,  and  would  do  so  longer  but 
for  the  loss  of  blood;  but  the  brain,  that  gives  intelligent  direc- 
tion to  the  power,  is  not  there.  The  battery  is  sending  its  elec- 
tricity along  the  wires  without  the  control  of  the  operator. 

If  enough  of  the  nerve  force  is  sent  to  the  muscles  to  move  the 
body  a  mile  in  six  minutes,  it  is  six  minutes  in  being  generated. 
If  the  same  amount  of  nerve  force  can  be  generated  and  sent  to 
the  muscles  in  three  minutes,  we  might  suppose  that  the  body 
would  be  moved  the  same  distance  in  three  minutes  •  and  herein 
would  appear  to  lie  all  the  difference  of  speed.  But  the  amount 
of  force  generated  by  the  nervous  centre,  and  expended  by  the 
muscles,  in  a  given  time,  does  not  exactly  explain  the  difference 
of  speed.  One  horse  may  expend  as  much  nerve  force  in  pulling 
a  load  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  three  minutes,  as  another  does  in 
trotting  a  whole  mile  in  the  same  time,  and  yet  not  be  able  to  trot 
a  mile  in  four  minutes.  The  speed  depends  on  the  ability  of  the 
spinal  cord  to  generate  and  send  to  the  different  sets  of  muscles 
concerned  in  locomotion,  the  required  amounts  of  nerve  force  in  a 
quick  succession  of  discharges  ]  and  on  the  capability  of  the  nerves 
to  transmit  it  to  the  muscles  in  large  quantity  in  a  short  time. 
The  difference  between  trotting  fast  and  drawing  a  heavy  load,  is 
not  in  the  amount  of  force  used,  but  in  the  manner  of  using  it. 
In  one  case,  the  nerve  force  is  sent  to  a  muscle  during  the  whole 
time  of  taking  a  slow  step  with  a  heavy  load ;  and  in  the  other,  it 
is  all  expended  in  an  instant,  causing  the  muscle  to  contract 
quickly,  and  thereby  projecting  the  horse  rapidly  forward — the 
acquired  momentum  continuing  after  the  muscle  ceases  to  con- 
tract. It  is  like  driving  a  nail  by  a  succession  of  blows,  that 
could  not  be  moved  by  the  same  aggregate  amount  of  pressure  dif- 
fused and  continued  over  the  whole  time  of  driving. 

The  essential  quality  of  speed,  at  any  gait,  is  therefore  a  cer- 
tain organization  of  the  nervous  system,  and  this  is  the  one  thing 
needful  in  every  case.  This  is  what  we  breed  for  when  we  breed 
for  speed  ]  this  is  the  quality  that  has  been  transmitted  through 
so  many  generations  from  Messenger,  Diorned,  Pilot,  Bellfounder, 
and  other  progenitors  of  American  trotters.  A  descendant  of 
Messenger  might  have  neither  his  form,  size,  nor  way  of  going, 
but  if  he  had  a  similar  organization  of  the  nervous  system,  he 
would  have  speed.  We  cannot  detect  this  peculiarity  of  organiza- 
tion by  any  outward  sign ;  we  can  know  of  it  only  by  its  mani- 
festations. We  know  that  it  is  hereditary,  and  we  also  know  that 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE.  499 

it  may  be  associated  with  any  form.  We  therefore  must  respect 
the  pedigrees  of  the  horses  and  mares  we  breed  from  ;  and  the  more 
of  the  trotting  quality  we  find  in  their  pedigrees,  the  more  reason 
we  will  have  for  expecting  a  fast  colt.  Form,  size,  style,  and 
action  are  all  important  matters  in  the  constitution  of  any  horse, 
and  particularly  important  in  trotters,  because  they  are  kept  for 
use  and  for  pleasure-driving  as  well  as  for  racing;  but  the  speed 
is  not  a  result  of  any  combination  of  these  qualities.  The  right 
kind  of  a  nervous  system  will  accomplish  more  if  the  form  and 
action  are  good  than  if  they  are  bad;  and  all  the  necessary  condi- 
tions of  speed  may  exist  in  a  horse,  and  yet  he  may  be  valueless 
because  of  an  incurably  bad  temper,  or  because  he  inherits  a 
strong  tendency  to  some  disqualifying  disease.  These  matters 
every  breeder  will  use  his  own  judgment  on.  If  a  mare  is  good 
in  all  respects  except  speed,  and  is  bred  to  a  horse  of  speed,  but 
of  bad  organization  in  other  respects,  the  colt  may  have  all  the 
good  qualities  of  the  dam  and  the  speed  of  the  sire ;  or  may  have 
the  bad  qualities  of  the  sire  and  the  want  of  speed  of  the  dam. 
It  is  impossible  to  foresee  in  what  proportion  the  two  parents  will 
transmit  their  respective  qualities  to  the  offspring ;  so  that  the 
safest  rule  in  breeding,  is  to  have  as  much  of  all  the  qualities  we 
breed  for  in  both  parents  as  is  possible.  The  speed  should  be  in 
both  families  to  make  its  inheritance  certain  ;  but  if  it  is  strongly 
inherited  t>y  one  side,  we  may  reasonably  expect  all  of  the  progeny 
to  go  faster  than  the  parent  that  is  not  speedy.  Thus  a  slow  mare 
bred  to  a  good  trotting-foal  getter,  will  always  produce  faster  colts 
than  she  would  if  bred  to  a  slow  stallion  like  herself. 

The  condition  of  parents  at  the  time  of  conception  has  a  power- 
ful influence  on  the  progeny — whether  it  be  mental  or  physical 
condition.  Offspring  inherit  both  the  congenital  and  the  acquired 
qualities  of  parents,  as  is  well  exemplified  in  the  familiar  case  of 
dogs  taught  to  hunt  birds,  and  when  they  are  found,  to  stand  and 
wait  for  a  man  to  shoot  them,  instead  of  rushing  on  to  catch  them 
as  the  instinctive  impulse  would  prompt.  The  standing  .  is  an 
acquired  quality,  the  effect  of  teaching,  and  yet  it  is  transmitted 
by  hereditary  descent  as  certainly  as  any  other  quality.  A  well- 
bred  setter  or  pointer  pup  will  stand  stanchly  at  a  game  bird,  when 
only  four  months  old,  without  any  teaching.  The  effect  on  offspring 
of  the  transient  condition  of  parents,  may  be  seen  in  every  family. 
No  two  children  of  the  same  parents  are  alike,  unless  they  be 
twins.  The  reason  is  plain ;  the  parents  change  from  year  to 
year,  and  the  children  inherit  the  changed  conditions.  The  father 
may  have  a  lawsuit,  and  a  child  may  inherit  the  contentiousness 
and  obstinacy  engendered  by  it ;  he  may  afterwards  be  engaged  in 
active  business  enterprises,  and  transmit  energy  and  a  clear  intel- 
lect to  another  child;  a  third  may  be  idiotic,  because  his  father 


500  THE  HORSE. 

was  enervated  by  a  debauch.  Many  causes  of  change  will  occur 
to  each  parent  in  the  year  or  two  that  elapses  between  the  births 
of  children,  and  these  changes  in  the  parents  modify  the  constitu- 
tions of  the  children.  Twins  may  be  much  alike,  because  there 
is  no  time  for  change,  commonly,  between  the  times  of  their  con- 
ception ;  though  they  may  differ  by  resembling  different  parents, 
or  by  an  interval  between  the  times  of  conception,  or  even  by  being 
the  children  of  different  fathers. 

It  is  not  essential  to  the  transmission  of  acquired  qualities,  that 
they  shall  have  been  long  acquired ;  a  few  days  of  strength  or  of 
debility,  even  perhaps  a  single  hour  of  difference  in  the  parent, 
may  make  a  life-long  difference  to  the  child.  A  mental  impression, 
however  short,  if  only  strong  enough,  may  be  transmitted.  Well- 
authenticated  cases  have  been  related  to  me,  one  of  a  full-bred 
Durham  calf  that  resembled  neither  parent,  but  a  brindle  ox  that 
strongly  impressed  the  minds  of  both  parents  at  the  time  of  con- 
ception ;  and  another  of  a  litter  of  pigs  of  the  white  variety,  com- 
mon in  Chester  and  Delaware  counties,  and  famous  everywhere, 
that  were  part  of  them  black,  because  a  black  sow  from  Maryland 
was  conspicuously  present  at  the  time  of  conception.  Several 
cases  have  come  within  my  own  knowledge,  of  mares  that  pro- 
duced foals  colored  and  marked  like  some  stable  or  field  companion, 
and  entirely  unlike  both  parents  in  that  respect. 

It  is  a  popular  belief  that  impressions  made  on  the  mind  of  the 
mother  during  pregnancy,  may  be  transmitted  to  the  offspring;  but 
that  cannot  be  true,  because  there  is  no  connection  by  nerves 
between  the  mother  and  child ;  and  a  mental  impression  could  not 
be  conveyed  by  the  blood.  All  of  such  supposed  cases  were  pro- 
•  bably  instances  in  which  the  impression  was  made  on  the  mind  of 
the  mother  before  conception — became  a  part  of  herself — and  was 
then  transmitted  to  her  offspring  by  the  same  law  that  any  other 
quality  of  a  parent  is  transmitted.  This  accounts,  probably,  for 
the  well-authenticated  case,  before  alluded  to,  of  colts  resembling 
a  quagga  that  was  not  their  sire.  The  mare  had  a  distinct  recol- 
lection of  the  strange  beast  associated  in  her  mind,  with  the 
sexual  intercourse  she  had  first  with  him ;  and  subsequent  occa- 
sions of  a  similar  kind  with  horses  recalled  the  mental  impression, 
and  it  was  transmitted,  being,  and  having  been  for  years,  a  part 
of  her  mental  constitution. 

It  follows,  that  in  breeding  for  trotting  horses,  we  should  not  be 
unmindful  of  the  temporary  condition  of  the  sire  and  dam.  Mares 
are  generally  worked,  and  are  nearly  always  in  very  good  condition 
for  breeding.  With  stallions,  it  is  usually  quite  different.  They 
are  kept,  as  if  their  use  was  procreating  colts  for  beef,  rather  than 
speed,  spirit,  and  endurance.  They  are  overfed  and  underworked; 
they  are  fat  and  feeble;  their  muscles  and  ligaments  are  not 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE.  501 

strengthened  by  exercise;  their  blood  is  not  purified  by  the 
increased  secretions  that  accompany  a  quickened  circulation  of 
blood;  their  courage  .and  endurance  are  not  developed  by  a 
long  journey  occasionally;  their  emulation  is  not  stimulated  by 
racing;  and  consequently  these  qualities,  all  so  desirable  in  the 
offspring,  are  not  transmitted  in  the  intensity  and  power  they  might 
be  if  a  more  rational  plan  were  pursued.  The  health  and  longevity 
of  the  stallion  are  endangered  by  these  debilitating  causes,  and  the 
best  horse  might  lose  reputation  as  a  good  trotting-foal  getter 
in  a  few  years  of  the  enervating  management  too  common  every- 
where. It  is  supposed  by  many,  that  a  horse  that  serves  many 
mares  has  demand  enough  upon  his  strength  without  working. 
The  truth  is.  he  needs  plenty  of  well-regulated  exercise  to  keep 
his  strength  up,  and  his  health  good,  that  he  may  safely  and  pro- 
fitably meet  the  great  demand  upon  his  vitality. 

It  is  becoming  quite  common  to  test  the  speed  of  trotting  colts 
at  three,  at  two,  and  even  at  one  year  old ;  and  with  proper  care,  it 
may  be  done  safely.  The  trial  should  be  made  after  a  little  pre- 
paration, by  gradually  increased  exercise,  and  the  distance  should 
be  short.  Curiosity  being  gratified  by  a  few  trials,  should  be  also 
satisfied,  for  colts  cannot  stand  much  speeding  without  danger  of 
injury. 

To  teach  a  young  horse  to  trot  well. requires  judgment  and  care. 
He  is  to  be  improved  by  practice,  there  is  no  other  way ;  and  he 
should  be  made  to  like  it,  not  fear  it.  He  should  make  his  best 
effort,  willingly,  eagerly,  and  doing  so  repeatedly,  he  cannot  fail 
to  improve.  Kindness  and  gentleness  are  always  necessary  in  the 
management  of  horses,  and  especially  so  in  the  taming  and  teach- 
ing of  young  horses.  No  horse  should  be  put  to  a  high  rate  of 
speed  until  he  is  first  warmed  up  and  breathing  freely,  and  then 
he  should  be  rested  a  little  by  a  slow  gait,  but  not  allowed  to  cool 
off  before  he  is  called  on  to  do  his  best. 

The  young  horse  does  not  always  know  just  what  is  wanted  of 
him,  and  it  is  therefore  a  good  plan  to  trot  him  on  the  same  piece 
of  level  road  always,  and  when  he  comes  to  it  he  will  expect  to 
trot.  He  should  never  be  made  tired  of  it,  but  always  stopped 
while  he  is  still  anxious  to  go.  The  training  is  as  much  a  mental 
as  a  physical  discipline ;  it  must  be  both.  Some  horses  need  the 
stimulation  of  the  voice  or  whip;  others  will  require  only  to  be 
held  to  their  work.  The  dull  one  should  be  stimulated  by  emula- 
tion— another  horse  should  be  trotted  or  galloped  alongside  of 
him;  and  whether  the  accompanying  horse  should  be  kept  just 
even  with  him,  or  a  little  before  or  behind,  must  be  ascertained  by 
trial.  An  intelligent  horse  becomes  discouraged  by  being  beaten 
in  a  race,  and  either  breaks  into  a  run  to  catch  up,  or  quits  mak- 
ing any  strong  effort.  Young  horses  being  more  impulsive  and 


502  THE  HORSE. 

less  under  the  influence  of  training  and  experience,  feel  the  mor- 
tification of  defeat  more  than  older  ones.  Some  colts  are  so 
anxious  to  beat,  that  it  is  impossible  to  keep  them  trotting  with  a 
competitor  of  equal  or  greater  speed,  but  if  put  in  double  harness 
they  understand  that  they  cannot  get  ahead  of  the  other  by  run- 
ning, and  will  do  their  very  best  trotting  honestly.  All  animals, 
except  men,  have  more  intelligence  than  they  get  credit  for;  and 
a  great  many  failures  in  the  management  of  horses  come  from 
men's  over-estimate  of  themselves,  and  their  failure  to  appreciate 
and  properly  regard  the  intelligence  of  the  other  animal. 

The  ground  should  be  smooth,  and  level,  or  a  little  descending. 
If  rough  it  throws  him  out  of  his  step ;  and  if  ascending  he  may 
get  to  hopping,  or  hipping,  as  it  is  sometimes  called — that  is,  he 
does  not  trot  square,  but  goes  in  a  half  gallop  with  his  hind  legs, 
as  an  easier  way  of  taking  the  weight  along,  while  he  trots  with 
his  fore  legs.  Taking  too  much  weight,  or  being  pushed  beyond 
his  speed,  may  make  him  do  it;  and  the  remedies  are,  avoidance 
of  the  causes,  and  driving  at  a  moderate  speed  until  the  habit  is 
forgotten.  The  common  notion  that  a  horse  can  better  trot  up  hill 
than  down,  is  too  absurd  to  merit  serious  refutation.  Whether  the 
hill  be  steep  or  otherwise,  long  or  short,  the  horse  can  trot  down 
it,  either  under  saddle  or  in  harness,  easier  than  he  can  trot  up  it. 

A  high  speed  for  a  short  distance  does  not  injure  even  quite 
young  horses,  but  keeping  them  at  it  until  the  ligaments  that  bind 
the  bones  together  at  the  joints  are  overtaxed,  and  feel  sore  the 
next  day,  is  the  way  to  stiffen  the  joints,  to  cause  knuckling  of  the 
hind  fetlock  joints,  and  springing  of  the  knees.  No  horse  should 
be  so  tired  by  a  day's  work  that  a  night's  rest  will  not  make  him 
fresh  again,  and  this  is  especially  true  of  young  horses.  If  a 
horse  is  worked  moderately  at  first,  and  a  little  more  is  exacted  of 
him  in  each  succeeding  day,  but  without  violation  of  the  rule  just 
stated,  his  powers  will  gradually  increase  to  meet  the  increased 
demand ;  but  if  that  rule  is  violated  for  days  in  succession,  the 
horse's  powers  daily  diminish,  and  the  experiment  will  end  in 
injury  to  his  health  and  spirit. 

In  trotting  young  horses  the  greatest  difficulty  is  in  keeping 
them  squarely  at  their  work.  They  will  try  to  go  as  fast  as  they 
can,  and  they  know  that  they  can  run  faster  than  they  can  trot. 
The  colt  that  can  naturally  trot  very  fast  will  have  less  desire  to 
run,  and  being  necessarily  descended  from  trotting  ancestors,  he 
will  naturally  be  more  disposed  to  do  his  best  going  in  that  way. 
If  possible,  he  should  never  be  driven  "  off  his  feet,"  but  should 
be  made  to  understand  that  he  has  but  one  way  of  going,  and  that 
is  trotting. 

Inexperienced  drivers  are  never  satisfied  with  their  horse's  trot- 
ting until  they  have  driven  them  out  of  their  gait,  and  then  they 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE.  503 

are  more  dissatisfied  than  before.  Rude  snatching  and  sawing  of 
the  mouth  by  the  bit  make  matters  worse — but  the  man  who 
always  makes  his  horse  break  up,  always  punishes  the  horse  for 
doing  it ;  and  particularly  is  this  true  when  some  other  horse  is 
out-footing  his.  He  then  imagines  that  his  horse  is  not  doing  as 
much  as  he  could,  if  he  were  disposed  to ;  the  whip  is  brought 
into  passionate  use,  and  the  bit  is  cruelly  made  an  instrument  of 
torture  to  counteract  the  effect  of  the  whip.  This  kind  of  driving 
teaches  a  young  horse  that  trotting  is  to  always  end  in  a  break, 
and  the  break  in  a  painful  and  alarming  punishment.  These 
unskilful,  ungentlemanly  drivers  find  a  remedy  for  the  horse's  too 
much  willingness  in  fatiguing  him  by  a  long  drive  at  speed,  after 
which  the  poor  creature  may  stick  to  his  trot  from  sheer  exhaus- 
tion. A  more  skilful  driver  would  get  all  the  speed  the  horse  was 
capable  of  while  he  was  fresh  and  strong,  and  without  injury  to 
his  health  or  disposition.  A  high-strung  young  horse  may  need 
to  have  the  wire-edge  taken  off  sometimes  before  he  will  go 
steadily;  and  it  should  be  done  by  a  long  jog-trot,  with  a  few 
short  brushes  of  speed  occasionally,  which  will  work  off  his  exu- 
berance of  spirits  without  injury. 

No  trotter  attains  his  greatest  speed  before  maturity ;  and  the 
best  of  them  continue  to  improve  up  to  fifteen  and  eighteen  years 
of  age.  To  do  this  a  horse  must  have  a  good  constitution ;  one 
that  will  carry  him  to  a  great  age  without  disease,  and  will  stand 
the  hard  work  necessary  to  develop  his  powers.  Breeding  from 
such  horses  will  therefore  improve  the  stock  of  the  country — not 
only  in  speed,  but  also  in  stamina.  The  cultivation  of  thorough- 
breds, for  running  races,  has  been  of  immense  benefit  to  the  road 
stock  of  the  country,  by  improving  its  speed  and  stamina,  and  by 
giving  it  better  form  and  style.  The  American  trotter  gets  more 
of  his  peculiar  excellence  from  the  thorough-breds,  than  from  all 
other  sources.  But  a  thorough-bred  of  acknowledged  excellence 
as  the  sire  of  racers,  might  be  utterly  worthless  to  improve  the 
road  stock.  Lexington,  the  sire  of  more  winners  than  any  other 
horse  now  in  this  country,  is  blind;  his  sire,  Boston,  was  blind; 
and  many  of  the  Lexington  colts  go  blind  at  an  early  age.  1  n 
1868  two  of  his  get  were  foaled  blind.  Yet  the  best  thorough- 
bred mares  are  bred  to  him,  because  the  progeny  will  probably 
keep  good  sight  until  five  years  old,  before  which  age  nearly  all 
the  racing  is  done.  If  he  were  a'  trotting  stallion  breeders  would 
not  use  him,  because  his  colts  would  go  blind  before  they  had 
attained  their  greatest  usefulness. 

We  may,  therefore,  reasonably  expect  the  breeding  of  trotting 
horses  to  improve  the  road  stock  of  the  country,  even  far  more 
than  was  done  by  the  thorough-breds.  A  thorough-bred  that  fails 
as  a  racer,  may  be  only  a  middling  kind  of  a  horse  for  any  other 


504 


THE  HORSE. 


use ;  but  the  trotting  horse  that  may  not  be  among  the  fastest  on 
the  course,  may,  and  probably  will  be,  a  very  superior  road  horse. 
The  following  table  shows  the  best  performances  from  the  begin- 
ning of  trotting  as  a  public  amusement  in  this  country  in  1818, 
to  1868,  in  which  year  a  larger  number  of  very  fast  horses  trotted 
in  public  than  in  any  former  period.  The  driving  of  horses  long 
distances  at  speed,  is  a  practice  that  cannot  be  too  strongly  repro- 
bated. Four  horses  have  trotted  twenty  miles  within  an  hour,  and 
several  others  have  tried  it  and  failed.  Black  Joke,  that  trotted 
fifty  miles  in  less  than  four  hours,  was  severely  injured  by  it.  The 
Orange  County  horse,  that  trotted  a  hundred  miles  in  less  than 
nine  hours,  died  the  same  day.  Such  cruelties  bring  discredit  on 
trotting  races,  and  should  not  be1  countenanced.  Ordinary  racing 
is  not  cruel — albeit,  many  good  people  who  never  saw  a  race  think 
differently ;  and  though  these  performances  at  long  distances  are 
introduced  to  show  the  utmost  capacity  of  horses,  it  is  "  devoutly 
to  be  wished,"  that  there  may  never  be  any  more  to  record. 

ONE  MILE. 


Year. 

Name  of  Horse. 

Place  of  Performance. 

Style  of  Going. 

Time. 

1818 

Boston  Blue,     .     .     . 

Boston, 

Harness, 

3m.  Os. 

1824 

Albany  Pony,  .      .     . 

Long  Island, 

Saddle, 

2m.  40s. 

1834 

Edwin  Forrest,      .     . 

Long  Island, 

Saddle, 

2m.  31Js. 

1839 

Dutchman,  .... 

Beacon  Course, 

Saddle, 

2rn.  28s. 

1847 

Highland  Maid,    .     . 

Long  Island, 

Harness, 

2m.  27s. 

1849 

Lady  Suffolk,  .     .     . 

Cambridge, 

Saddle, 

2m.  26s. 

1855 

Pocahontas  (pacer),  . 

Long  Island, 

Wagon, 

2m.  17s. 

1858 

Ethan  Allen,    .     .     . 

Long  Island, 

Wagon, 

2m.  28s. 

1859 

Flora  Temple,  .     .     . 

Kalamazoo, 

Harness, 

2m.  19|s. 

1859 

Flora  Temple,  .     .     . 

Long  Island, 

Wagon, 

2rn.  25-s. 

1863 

Long  Island, 

Wagon, 

2m.  23£s. 

1865 

Dexter,    

Long  Island, 

Saddle, 

2m.  18£s. 

1866 

Dexter,    

Buffalo, 

Saddle, 

2m.  18s. 

1867 

Dexter 

Buffalo, 

Harness, 

2m.  17Js. 

1868 

Lady  Thorn,     .     .     . 

Boston, 

Harness, 

2m.  20is. 

1868 

Mountain  Boy,      .     . 

Boston, 

Harness, 

2m.  20|s. 

1868 

Bashaw,  Jr.      .     .     . 

Clinton,  Iowa, 

Harness, 

2m.  21s. 

1868 

Geo.  Palmer,    .     .     . 

Boston, 

Harness, 

2m.  2Hs. 

1868 

Geo.  Wilkes,     .     .     . 

Cranston,  R.  I., 

Harness, 

2m.  22s. 

1868 

Lucv 

Cranston    R.  I,. 

Harness, 

2m.  22*s. 

1868 

Goldsmith  Maid,  .     . 

Boston, 

Harness, 

2m.  23s. 

1868 

Fearnought,     >.    .     . 

Buffalo, 

Harness, 

2m.  23*s. 

1868 

Rhode  Island,  .     .     . 

Fashion  Course, 

Harness, 

2in.  23*s. 

1868 

Draco  Prince,  .     . 

Cranston,  R.  I., 

Harness, 

2m.  24£s. 

1868 

American  Girl,      .     . 

Buffalo, 

Harness, 

2m.  24*s. 

1868 

Myron  Perry,  .     .     . 

Cranston,  R.  L, 

Harness, 

2m.  25is. 

1868 

Tattler  (5  yrs.),    .     . 

Louisville, 

Harness, 

2m.  26s. 

1868 

Billy  Boyce  (pacer), 

Buffalo, 

Saddle, 

2m.  14is. 

186S 

Lamplighter  (pacer), 

Detroit, 

Harness, 

2m.  24|s. 

ISfiS 

Rolla  Golddust,    .     . 

Island  Park.  N.Y. 

Harness, 

2m.  21s. 

THE  AMERICAN  TROTTING  HORSE. 
Two  MILES. 


505 


1831 
1847 
1852 
1858 
1859 
1865 
1867 

Top  Gallant,     .    .     . 
Lady  Suffolk,   .     .     . 
Tacony,   
Lady  Franklin,     .     . 
Flora  Temple,  .     .     . 
Dexter,    

Philadelphia, 
Long  Island, 
Long  Island, 
Long  Island, 
Long  Island, 
Long  Island, 
Long  Island, 

Saddle, 
Saddle, 
Saddle, 
Wagon, 
Harness, 
Wagon, 
Harness, 

5m.  19|s. 
5m.  3s. 
5m.  2s. 
5m.  11s. 
4m.  50is. 
4m.  56is. 
4m.  51s. 

Dexter,    

THREE  MILES. 

Year. 

Name  of  Horse. 

Place  of  Performance. 

Style  of  Going. 

Time. 

1827 
1832 
1839 
1841 
1853 
1864 

Screwdriver,     .     .     . 

Philadelphia, 
Long  Island, 
Beacon  Course, 
Philadelphia, 
Long  Island, 
Long  Island, 

Saddle, 
Saddle, 
Saddle, 
Saddle, 
Wagon, 
Harness, 

8m.  2s. 
8m.  Os. 
7m.  32£s. 
7m.  40is. 
8m.  Is. 
7m.  39s. 

Dutchman,  .... 
Lady  Suffolk,   .     .     . 
Pet 

Stonewall  Jackson,    . 

ONE  MILE  IN  DOUBLE  HARNESS. 

1856 
1861 
1862 
1867 
1867 

Lantern  and  Whalebone 
Ethan  Allan  and  runnin 
Lady  Palmer  and  Flatbi 
Bruno  and  Brunette, 

2m.  42s. 
2m.  19|s. 
2m.  26s. 
2m.  25Js. 
2m.  15s. 

s  mate. 

ish  Maid  (private  trial),  .    .    . 

Ethan  Allen  and  runnin 

Two  MILES  IN  DOUBLE  HARNESS. 

1842 
1862 

Lady  Suffolk  and  Rifle, 
Lady  Palmer  and  Flatbi 

5m.  19s. 
5m.  Us. 

ish  Maid,  

TWENTY  MILES. 


Year. 

Name  of  Horse. 

Place  of  Performance. 

Style  of  Going. 

Time. 

1848 

Trustee,  

Union  Course 

59m  35Js 

1855 

Lady  Fulton,   .    . 

Centreville  Course, 

Harness, 

59m.  55s. 

1865 

Capt.  McGowan, 

Boston, 

Harness, 

58m.  25s. 

1868 

John  Stewart,  .     .     . 

Fashion  Course, 

Harness, 

58m.  30s. 

1868 

John  Stewart,  .     . 

Boston, 

Wagon, 

59m.  23s. 

43 


506 


THE  HORSE. 
FIFTY  MILES. 


1842 


Blaek  Joke, 


3h.  57m. 


ONE  HUNDRED  MILES. 


1840 

Kate,    

9h.  45m. 

1842 

Fanny  Murray,      .                    .     .          .          .          . 

9h   41m   26s 

1845 

9h.  38m.  34s. 

1853 

8h.  55m.  53s. 

If  these  few  pages,  written  hastily  in  hours  snatched  from  a 
laborious  profession,  and  from  sleep,  should  inspire  the  reader 
with  a  higher  respect  for  and  more  tender  sympathy  with  man's 
most  useful  and  willing  servant,  they  have  not  been  written  in 
vain. 


CHESTER,  PA.,  February  1869, 


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INDEX. 


ABDALLAH,  history  of,  472;  as  a  stal- 
lion, 473  j  inbred,  490,  491. 

Abd  el  Kader,  on  the  Arab  horse,  40  ; 
on  the  influence  of  the  sire  and  dam 
respectively  in  breeding,  110. 

Abdomen,  boundaries  of  the,  278 ;  con- 
tents of  the,  279. 

Abdominal  viscera,  diseases  of  the,  350. 

Abyssinia,  the  horses  of,  32. 

Accidents  to  the  legs  and  feet,  413. 

Action,  locomotive,  of  the  various  parts, 
76. 

Administration  of  chloroform,  432  ;  of 
physic,  446. 

Africa,  South,  the  horses  of,  32. 

Age,  shown  by  the  dental  system, 
258 ;  average,  28 ;  best  to  breed  from, 
109. 

AH  Bey,  his  description  of  the  modern 
Arab,  33. 

Alice  Carneal,  55. 

Alice  Hawthorne  (English  thorough- 
bred), 58. 

Alimentary  canal,  absorption  of  fluid 
from,  280. 

Alteratives,  action  of,  448  ;  recipes  for, 
448. 

Amaurosis,  nature  of,  387 ;  symptoms 
of,  387 ;  treatment  of,  387. 

Amble,  description  of  the,  95. 

America,  South,  the  horses  of,  45. 

American  Eagle  (trotter),  49. 

American  Eclipse  (thorough-bred), 
pedigree  of,  474 ;  influence  of  upon 
trotting  stock,  474,  493. 

American    Star  (Seeley's),  description 


of,  482 ;  pedigree  of,  482 ;  as  a  stal- 
lion, 482. 

American  thorough-bred,  the,  52; 
stoutness  of  the,  54. 

American  trotter,  the,  50 ;  essay  on  the, 
467  et  seq. 

Americus  (trotter),  474. 

Anasarca,  symptoms  and  treatment  of, 
419. 

Anchylosis,  nature  of,  298. 

Ancient  methods  of  using  the  horse,  17. 

Andrew  Jackson  (trotter),  by  Young 
Bashaw,  as  a  stallion,  481. 

Anodynes,  action  of,  449 ;  recipes  for, 
449. 

Antiquity,  the  Arab  of,  16. 

Antiseptics,  450 ;  recipes  for,  450. 

Anti-Zumins,  451 ;  recipes  for,  451. 

Aperients,  action  of,  451 ;  recipes  for, 
452. 

Apoplexy,  nature  of,  380;  treatment  of, 
380. 

Apparatus  for  breaking  to  harness,  152. 

Arab  horse,  the,  color  of,  37 ;  disposi- 
tion of,  36  ;  food  of,  36 ;  of  antiquity, 
16  ;  the  modern,  33  ;  size  of,  35  ;  speed 
of,  37 ;  Abd  el  Kader's  description  of 
the  modern,  40 ;  Ali  Bey's  description 
of  the  modern,  33 ;  Capt.  Shakspear's 
description  of  the  modern,  37 ;  the 
mare,  40. 

Archer  (an  English  trotter),  470. 

Ariel  (thorough-bred),  472. 

Arsenic,  the  effects  of,  352 ;  treatment 
of  the  effects  of,  353. 

Arteries  of  the  foot,  the,  295;  of  tho 


(525) 


526 


INDEX. 


foot,  view  of,  injected,  294;    of  the 

frog  and  sole,  view  of,  injected,  295. 
Asiatic  horses,  the,  42. 
Astringents,  action  of,  453 ;  recipes  for 

453. 

Atavism,  principles  of,  486. 
Atmospheric  air,  changes  produced  in 

by  respiration,  277. 
Attitude  assumed  in  standing,  78. 
Australian  horse,  the,  44. 
Average  age,  28. 


BACK  and  loins,  symptoms  of  strains 
in,  316 ;  treatment  of  strain  in,  317. 

Back-raking,  mode  of  performing,  447. 

Back-sinews,  strain  of  the,  319  ,•  symp- 
toms of,  319  ;  treatment  of,  320. 

Bail,  the,  hanging,  168;  gangway,  170. 

Balanitis,  symptoms  of,  373 ;  treatment 
of,  374. 

Bandages,  use  and  application  of,  196. 

Barb,  the,  30. 

Barbs,  treatment  of,  352. 

Barnacles,  435. 

Bashaw  (Grand)  imported  Arabian  stal- 
lion, influence  of  upon  trotting  stock, 
474. 

Bashaw  (Green's),  as  a  stallion,  482; 
pedigree  of,  482,  509. 

Bashaw  (Young),  474;  as  a  stallion, 
481. 

Bath,  the  Turkish,  213;  ground  plan 
of,  214. 

Baucher's  method  of  horse-breaking, 
145. 

Bay  Chief,  by  Mambrino  Chief,  483. 

Bellfounder  (imp.),  description  of,  473; 
history  of,  473;  influence  of  upon 
trotting  stock,  473 ;  reputation  as  a 
stallion,  473. 

Bellringer,  by  Mambrino  Pilot,  484. 

Bengal,  the  horses  of,  43. 

Berenger,  his  description  of  the  Barb, 
30. 

Big-head,  nature  and  symptoms  of,  308. 

Billy  Boyce  (pacer),  479  ;  pedigree  of, 
480,  523 ;  performances  of,  504. 

Birmah,  the  horses  of,  44. 

Bishoping,  264. 

Bit  used  for  horse-breaking,  143. 

Bites  of  insects,  treatment  of,  392. 

Biting,  remedy  for  the  vice,  206. 


Black  Hawk  (Hill's,  also  called  Ver- 
mont), 49,  476,  477;  influence  upon 
trotting   stock,  476 ;    as   a   stallion, 
477. 
Black  Hawk  (Long  Island),  481;  as  a 

stallion,  482. 

Blacking,  recipes  for  harness,  230. 
Bladder,  anatomy  of  the,  284;  calculi 
in,  373  ;  diseases  of,  372 ;  inflamma- 
tion of,  372. 

Bleeding,   435 ;    instruments   used   in, 
436 ;  quantity  of  blood  taken  in,  437  ; 
inflammation  of  the  vein,  when  per- 
formed, 437. 
Blindness,  caused  by  various  diseases, 

385. 

Blink  Bonny  (an   English   thorough- 
bred), external  formation  of,  62. 
Blistering,  440. 

Blisters,  action  of,  454;  recipes  for,  454. 

Blood,  the,  273  ;  circulation  of  the,  274 ; 

purity  of  in  the  thorough-bred,  60 ; 

spavin,  (see  Bog  Spavin). 

Blood-vessels   of  the   chest  and  nose, 

diseases  of  the,  349. 
Bog  spavin,  nature  of,  313  ;  symptoms 

of,  313  ;  treatment  of,  313. 

Bone,  diseases  of,  297 ;  office  of,  249  ; 

structure   of,   248;    fracture   of  the 

canna,  310;  strain  of  the  round,  322. 

Bone-spavin,  nature  of,  302 ;  symptoms 

of,  303;  treatment  of,  303. 
Bones,  number  of,  composing  the  skele- 
ton, 252. 

Bornou,  the  horses  of,  32. 
Boston,  pedigree  of,  103 ;  stoutness  of, 

53. 

Boston  Blue  (trotter),  470,  504. 
Bots,  355 ;    group  of,  attached  to  the 

stomach,  356. 

Bowels,  calculi  in  the,  365 ;  nature  of 
inflammation  of  the,  357 ;  symptoms 
of  inflammation  of  the,  359;  treat- 
ment of  inflammation  of  the,  359. 
Break,  or  trevis,  the,  435. 
Breaking,  Rarey's  principles  and  prac- 
tice, 128 ;  Rarey's  apparatus,  130  ; 
for  the  saddle,  ordinary  method,  141 ; 
Baucher's  method,  145;  superiority 
of  the  ordinary  method,  151 ;  to  har- 
ness, 151. 

Breaking    down,   321;    symptoms   of, 
321 ;  treatment  of,  321. 


INDEX. 


527 


Breathing,  essence  of,  277 ;  physiology 
of,  277. 

Breed  of  race-horses,  object  of  encour- 
aging the,  58. 

Breeding,  atavism,  or  breeding  back, 
486 ;  best  age  for,  109 ;  causes  of  a 
hit  in,  106 ;  choice  of  sire  and  dam 
in,  113,  486;  condition  of  parent  at 
time  of  conception,  499 ;  in-and-in, 
103,  490  j  importance  of  health  and 
soundness  in,  107,  486;  influence  of 
the  sire  and  dam  respectively,  110, 
486;  out  crossing,  104;  principles 
of,  99,  487  et  seq. ;  kind  of  horse  most 
profitable  for,  116  ;  theory  of  genera- 
tion, 99,  494. 

Breeding-back,  486. 

Bright  Phoebus  (thorough-bred),  472. 

Brignoli  (trotter),  by  Mambrino  Chief, 
484. 

British  horse,  the  original,  17. 

Broken  knee,  treatment  of,  324. 

Broken  wind,  nature  of,  346;  symptoms 
of,  346  ;  treatment  of,  347. 

Bronchitis,  nature  of,  329 ;  symptoms 
of,  329  ;  treatment  of,  330 ;  treatment 
of  chronic,  330. 

Brood  mare,  the,  117 ;  after  treatment 
of  the  foal,  127;  early  treatment  of 
the  foal,  125 ;  general  management 
of,  122 ;  hovel  for,  119 ;  paddock  for, 
118;  time  of  sending  to  the  horse, 
123;  treatment  of  the,  when  in  foal, 
123  ;  treatment  of  the,  after  foaling, 
125  ;  weaning  of  the  foal,  127. 

Bruce,  his  description  of  the  horse  of 
Dongola,  32. 

Brunette  (trotter),  476,  505. 

Bruno  (trotter),  476. 

Buck  eye,  nature  of,  387. 

Burden's  horse  shoe  manufactory,  de- 
scription of,  430. 

Bursae  mucosse,  anatomy  of,  271;  in- 
flammation in,  314. 

Butterfly  (English  thorough-bred),  61. 


CALCULI,  in  the  bowels,  nature  of,  365; 
urinary,  373 ;  symptoms  of  urinary, 
373  ;  treatment  of  urinary,  373. 

Canadian  horse,  the,  47,  475,  476  ;  por- 
trait of,  47;  influence  of  upon  trot- 
ting stock,  476. 


Canker,  nature  of,  403 ;  treatment  of, 

403. 

Canna  bone,  fractures  of,  310. 
Cannucks  (see  Canadian  horse),  475. 
Canter,  the,  89 ;  mode  of  starting  into 

a,  238. 
Capped  elbow,  treatment  of,  316 ;  hock, 

cause  of,  315 ;  treatment  of,  315. 
Capulet  (see  Capped  Elbow). 
Carbolic  acid,  description  of,  450. 
Caries,   nature   of,  298;    of    the   jaw, 

symptoms  of,  307;  treatment  of,  308. 
Cart-horse,  the  Vermont,  55. 
Cartilage,  266 ;  diseases  of,  312 ;  struc- 
ture and  composition  of,  267  ;  ulcera- 

tion  of,  312. 
Cartilages,  ossification  of  the  lateral, 

301;    symptoms  of,  301;    treatment 

of,  302. 
Cassius  M.  Clay  (trotter),  reputation 

of  as  a  stallion,  481,  482. 
Casting,  method  of,  432 ;  for  operations 

upon  the  fore  leg,  434;    for  castra- 
tion, 434. 
Castration,  441 ;  method  of  casting  for, 

434;  operation  for,  441. 
Cataract,  nature  and  causes  of,  386. 
Catarrh,  nature  of,  327;  treatment  of, 

327. 

Catchpit,  section  of,  163. 
Caustics,  action  of,  455 ;  recipes  for,  455. 
Cauteries  (see  Caustics). 
Cayuga  Chief,  (trotter),  479. 
Cerebro-spinal   meningitis,  nature   of, 

328,  376,  418;    symptoms  of,   418; 

treatment  of,  419. 
Chaban,  an  Arabian  stallion,  portrait 

of,  35. 
Chanticleer   (English   thorough-bred), 

75. 
Chapped    Heels,    symptoms    of,   394; 

treatment  of,  394. 
Chest,  diseases  of  ihe  blood-vessels  of, 

349 ;  water  on  the,  345. 
Choking,  distemper  (see  Cerebro-spinal 

meningitis). 

Chillaby,  an  Arab  horse,  36. 
China,  the  horse  of,  44, 
Chloroform,  apparatus  for  administer- 
ing, 432;    mode   of  administration, 

432. 
Chronic  cough,  331 ;  symptoms  of,  331  j 

treatment,  331. 


528 


INDEX. 


Chyle,  the,  280. 

Circulation,  plan  of  the,  275. 

Clipping,  189. 

Clothes,  tearing  off  the,  204;  remedy 
for,  205. 

Clubs,  trotting,  establishment  of,  470. 

Clysters,  mode  of  administering,  447 ; 
action  of,  456  ,•  recipe  for,  456. 

Coach-house,  174. 

Coat  of  the  thorough-bred,  75. 

Coffin-joint,  strains  of  the,  318. 

Cold,  nature  of,  327 ;  treatment  of,  327. 

Colic,  nature  of,  360 ;  symptoms  of, 
360;  flatulent,  signs  of,  361;  from 
stoppage,  symptoms  of,  361 ;  signs 
of  spasmodic,  361;  treatment  of, 
361;  treatment  of  flatulent,  362; 
treatment  of  impaction,  362;  treat- 
ment required  after,  362;  remedies 
for,  452. 

Color,  of  the  Arab  horse,  37;  of  the 
thorough-bred,  75. 

Colt,  breaking  of  the,  128. 

Commander,  by  Messenger,  influence 
of  upon  trotting  stock,  472. 

Conestoga  draught-horse,  the,  55;  por- 
trait of,  56. 

Confining  the  horse,  methods  of,  433. 

Congestion  of  the  lungs,  nature  and 
cause  of,  339 ;  symptoms  of,  341 ; 
treatment  of,  342. 

Constitutional  diseases,  417. 

Consumption  (phthisis),  symptoms  of, 
346 ;  treatment  of,  346. 

Contraction  of  the  foot,  409;  of  the 
heels,  430. 

Convulsions,  symptoms  of,  375 ;  treat- 
ment of,  376. 

Corbeau  (trotter),  character  of  as  a 
stallion,  480 ;  pedigree  of,  480. 

Cord,  spinal,  the  source  of  power  of 
moving,  497. 

Corns,  nature  of,  397 ;  treatment  of,  397. 

Coronary  frog-band,  the,  293. 

Coronary  substance,  anatomy  of  the, 
293. 

Corrosive  sublimate,  treatment  of  effects 
of,  353. 

Cough,  nature  of  chronic,  331 ;  symp- 
toms of  chronic,  331 ;  treatment  of 
chronic,  331. 

Counter-irritants,  454. 

Coup  de  soleil,  treatment  of,  382. 


Crab  (imp.),  53. 

Cranston  (trotter),  by  Mambrino  Pilot, 
484. 

Crib-biting,  202  ;  bar-muzzle  for,  203. 

Cruiser,  36,  128,  131 ;  in  the  power  of 
his  master,  133 ;  with  the  leg-strap 
and  surcingle  on,  132. 

Crust  of  the  foot,  anatomy  of  the,  292. 

Curb,  nature  of,  322  ;  treatment  of,  323. 

Cushion  of  the  frog,  293. 

Cuts,  stable  management  of  simple, 
222;  contused,  222. 

Cutting,  ordinary,  413 ;  description  of 
speedy,  415 ;  prevention  of,  415 : 
treatment  of  ordinary,  413 ;  treat- 
ment of  speedy,  415. 

Cystitis,  symptoms  of,  372 ;  treatment 
of,  372. 


DAILY  exercise,  200. 

Dart  (trotter),  479. 

Deafness,  383. 

Depuration,  its  office  in  the  animal 
economy,  281. 

Detergents,  456;  recipes  for,  456. 

Dexter  (trotter),  performances  of,  50, 
504,  505  ;  pedigree  of,  473,  480-2,  513. 

Dgelfe,  a  breed  of  Arab  horse,  33. 

Diabetes,  symptoms  of,  371 ;  treatment 
of,  371;  remedies  for,  453. 

Diaphragm,  symptoms  of  spasm  of, 
348 ;  treatment  of  spasm  of,  348. 

Diarrhoea,  nature  of,  362  ;  treatment  of, 
363;  medicines  for  chronic,  450;  clys- 
ter for,  459  ;  remedies  for,  452,  456. 

Digestion,  physiology  of,  280. 

Diomed  (imp.),  474,  492;  influence 
of  upon  trotting  stock,  474. 

Dishing,  in  the  trot,  88. 

Dislocation,  nature  of,  324 ;  of  the  hip 
joint,  324;  of  the  patella,  324. 

Distemper,  nature  of,  328 ;  treatment 
of,  329  ;  choking,  376,  418. 

Diuretics,  action  of,  457 ;  recipes  for, 
457. 

Docking,  operation  for,  444. 

Dongola,  the  horses  of,  32. 

Door  for  loose  box,  161. 

Doors  of  stables,  materials  for,  161. 

Drainage  of  stables,  163. 

Draught-horse,  the  Conestoga,  55 ;  por- 
trait of,  56. 


INDEX. 


529 


Dressing  of  horses  before  work,  183 ; 

after  work,  186. 
Duct,  the  thoracic,  280. 
Ducts,  the  lacrymal,  289. 
Duroc  (thorough-bred)  474,  483. 
Dysentery,  nature  of  362;    treatment 

of,  362 ;  remedies  for,  453. 
Dyspepsia,  nature  of,  354;    symptoms 

of,  354 ;  treatment  of,  355. 


EAR,  anatomy  of  the,  289  ;  diseases  of, 
383;  scratching  the,  remedy  for, 
204. 

Early  maturity  of  the  thorough-bred, 
57. 

East,  the  horses  of  the,  30. 

Eclipse  (American  thorough-bred),  in- 
fluence upon  trotting  stock,  474. 

Eclipse  (English  thorough-bred),  de- 
scription of,  27 ;  Percival's  descrip- 
tion of,  28. 

Ecraseur,  the,  443. 

Egyptian  horse,  the  ancient,  16;  the 
modern,  32. 

Elbow-joint,  treatment  of  capped,  316. 

Embrocations,  action  of,  457;  recipes 
for,  457. 

Engineer,  by  Messenger,  472. 

Enteritis,  nature  of,  357;  symptoms  of, 
358. 

Epilepsy,  symptoms  of,  375;  treatment 
of,  376. 

Ericsson  (trotter),  by  Mambrino  Chief, 
483,  484. 

Eruptions  of  the  skin,  388  et  seq. 

Essentials  in  the  thorough-bred,  60. 

Ethan  Allen  (trotter),  49,  482,  505 

Excretion,  physiology  of,  281. 

Exercise,  daily,  200. 

Exhaustion,  after  work,  treatment  of, 
221. 

Exostosis,  nature  of,  297  ;  of  the  bu- 
merus  and  scapula,  treatment  of,  305. 

External  form  as  indicated  by  points, 
19 ;  formation  of  the  thorough-bred, 
61. 

Extremities,  anatomy  of  the  anterior, 
254  ;  of  the  hind,  253  ;  considered  as 
organs  of  support,  255;  of  locomo- 
tion, 256. 

Eye,  anatomy  of  the,  287  ;  appendages 

45  2 


of,  289  ;  simple  inflammation  of,  383 ; 
symptoms  of  simple  inflammation  of, 
287;  treatment  of  simple  inflamma- 
tion of,  384;  treatment  of  purulent 
ophthalmia^  384;  irites,  384;  injuries 
of,  386  ',i treatment  of  injuries,  386; 
cataract,  386  ;  amaurosis,  387 ;  buck- 
eye, 387  ;  wash  for  the,  459. 


FACE,  anatomy  of  the,  254. 

Fair  Rachel  (thorough-bred),  472. 

False  quarter,  nature  of,  399 ;  treat- 
ment of,  400. 

Farcy,  symptoms  of,  421  ;  treatment 
of,  421 ;  remedies  for,  451* 

Fearnought  (imp.),  53. 

Febrifuges,  action  of,  458 ;  recipes  for, 
458. 

Feeding,  theory  and  practice  of,  177. 

Feeling,  290. 

Feet,  accidents  to  the,  413  ;  manage- 
ment of,  197 ;  dryness  of  the,  198. 

Femur,  treatment  of  fracture  of  the, 
310. 

Fetlock,  remarks  on  the  strain  of  the, 
318 ;  treatment  of  the  strain  of  the, 
318. 

Fevers,  remarks  on,  417  ;  symptoms  of 
simple,  417;  symptoms  of  typhoid, 
417  ;  treatment  of  simple,  417  ;  treat- 
ment of  typhoid,  418. 

Fever  balls  and  powders,  458. 

Fibre,  muscular,  270. 

Fibrous  tissue,  nature  of,  268 ;  chemi- 
cal composition  of,  269. 

Firing,  method  of  performing,  438 ; 
remarks  on,  437. 

Fisherman  (English  thorough-bred), 
portrait  of,  62. 

Fistula  of  the  withers,  nature  of,  306  ; 
symptoms  of,  306  ;  treatment  of,  306.' 

Flatbush  Maid  (trotter),  480. 

Flatulent  colic,  symptoms  of,  361 ; 
treatment  of,  362. 

Flora  Temple  (trotter),  50,  489,  490, 
504,  505  ;  portrait  of,  489. 

Flying  gallop,  the,  92. 

Foal,  the,  125 ;  after  treatment  of  the, 
127;  early  treatment  of  the,  125; 
weaning  of  the,  127. 

Foals,  rheumatic  inflammation  peculiar 


530 


INDEX. 


to,  313 ;  treatment  of  rheumatic  in- 
flammation of,  314. 

Foot,  anatomy  of  the,  290  ;  lateral  car- 
tilages of,  296  ;  section  of,  291  ;  the 
parts  entering  into  the  composition 
of,  290  ;  view  of  the  under  surface  of, 
292  j  with  the  hoof  removed,  view  of 
the,  292;  contraction  of  the,  409, 
430;  the  hoof,  292;  the  arteries  of, 
295;  founder  of  the,  403  ;  conditions 
of  a  good  sound,  425. 

Fore-quarters,  relative  proportions  of 
the,~21. 

Formation,  external,  of  the  horse,  61. 

Founder  of  the  foot,  403. 

Fractures,   remarks   on,    308 ;    simple, 

309  ;    treatment  of  simple,  310  ;    of 
the  femur,  310  ;   treatment  of,  310  ; 
of  the  humerus,  310 ;    treatment  of, 

310  ;  of  the  canna  bones,  310  ;  treat- 
ment of,  310  ;  of  the  lower  jaw,  310  ; 
treatment  of,  310  ;  of  the  pelvis,  310 ; 
treatment  of,  310  ;    of  the  pasterns, 
310  ;  treatment  of,  310  ;  of  the  bones 
of  the  skull,  310  ;  treatment  of,  310  ; 
of  the  radius,  310  ;  treatment  of,  310  ; 
of  the  ribs,  310  ;  treatment  of,  310 ; 
of  the   scapula,  310  ;    treatment  of, 
310;  of  the  spine,  310  ;  treatment  of, 
310  ;  of  the  tibia,  310  ;  treatment  of, 
310. 

Frog,  anatomy  of  the,  293. 


GAD-FLY,  bites  of  the,  392 ;  treatment 
for,  392. 

Gallop,  the  flying,  92 ;  variation  on 
length  of  stride  of,  95  ;  correct  view 
of  the  94 ;  received  interpretation  of 
the,  91  ;  the  hand,  90 ;  the  extended, 
91  ;  method  of  starting  to  the,  239. 

Galls,  treatment  of  harness,  391 ;  rem- 
edy for,  459. 

Gangway,  bail  for  stable,  170. 

Gastritis,  rarity  of,  352  ;  symptoms  of, 
352  ;  treatment  of,  352. 

General  characteristics  of  the  horse,  18. 

Generation,  anatomy  of  the  female 
organs  of,  286  ;  anatomy  of  the  male 
organs  of,  285 ;  theory  of,  99,  494. 

Generative  organs,  diseases  of  the, 
373. 

George   M.  Patcheu    (trotter),  reputa- 


tion of  as  a  stallion  481 ;  pedigree 
of,  512. 

George  Palmer  (trotter  ,  504. 

George  Wilkes  (trotter),  473,  481,  504. 

Gift  (trotter),  474,  484. 

Gland,  the  kidneys,  284;  the  liver,  283; 
the  pancreas,  284. 

Glands,  structure  of  the,  280. 

Glanders,  symptoms  of,  420 ;  treatment 
of,  421 ;  remedies  for,  451. 

Glencoe-  (imp.),  474. 

Godolphin  Arabian,  history  of,  31. 

Golddust  (trotter),  483;  pedigree  of, 
493,  510. 

Goldsmith's  Maid  (trotter),  504;  pedi- 
gree of,  517. 

Granary,  construction  of,  160. 

Grand  Bashaw  (imp.),  influence  of  upon 
trotting  stock,  474 

Grass,  turning  out  to,  225. 

Grease  (Scratches),  symptoms  of,  394; 
treatment  of,  395. 

Green's  Bashaw,  reputation  as  a  stal- 
lion, 482,  483  ;  pedigree  of,  509. 

Greek  horse,  the  ancient,  14. 

Grooming,  after  work,  184;  before 
work,  186. 

Grubs,  removal  of,  392. 


HABITS  in  a  wild  or  free  state,  18 ; 
out-door  bad,  243  ;.  remedies  for  bad, 
202. 

Hacks,  preparation  of  for  work,  220. 

Haematuria,  causes  of,  371 ;  symptoms 
of,  371 ;  treatment  of,  371. 

Haemorrhage,  from  the  lungs,  treatment 
of,  349;  from  the  nose,  treatment  of, 
349. 

Halters  used  for  breaking  colts,  142. 

Hambletonian  (Harris'),  480. 

Hambletonian  (Rysdyk's),  thorough- 
bred, 490;  character  of  as  a  stallion, 
481;  closely  in-bred,  490;  pedigree 
of,  507. 

Hambletonian  (thorough-bred),  by 
Messenger,  472 ;  influence  of  upon 
trotting  stock,  472. 

Hand-gallop,  the,  90. 

Harness,  blacking,  recipes  for,  230 ; 
breaking  to,  151 ;  care  of,  229  ;  direc- 
tion for  cleaning,  229  ;  fittings  for, 
173;  room  in  stables,  173;  galls,  391 


INDEX. 


531 


Havoc  (thorough-bred),  483. 

Hay,  chamber,  159. 

Head,  bones  of  the,  254;  relative  pro- 
portions of  the,  19. 

Health,  importance  of  in  sire  and  dam, 
107,  486 ;  upland  grass  useful  in  re- 
storing, 228. 

Heart,  diseases  of  the,  348. 

Heels,  symptoms  of  chapped,  394; 
treatment  of  chapped,  394;  treat- 
ment of  contracted,  430 ;  remedies 
for  sore,  454. 

Height  of  the  thorough-bred,  75. 

Henry  Clay  (trotter),  by  Long  Island 
Black  Hawk,  481,  482;  character  of 
as  a  stallion,  482. 

Hepatization  of  the  lungs,  340. 

Herbert's  description  of  wild  horse  of 
America,  46. 

Hernia,  reduction  of,  445. 

Hero  (pacer),  479,  480. 

Hidebound,  nature  of,  389 ;  symptoms 
of,  389  ;  treatment  of,  389. 

Highblowing,  nature  of,  338. 

Highland  Ash  (trotter),  480;  pedigree, 
520. 

Highland  Lass  (trotter),  480. 

Highland  Maid  (trotter),  480,  504 

Hill's  Black  Hawk,  476 ;  character  of 
as  a  stallion,  476;  pedigree,  476. 

Hind  quarters,  points  of  the,  25. 

Hip-joint,  dislocation  of  the,  324; 
strain  of  the,  322. 

Hiram  Woodruff  (trotter),  482. 

"  Hit,"  causes  of  a,  106. 

Hobbles,  description  of,  and  method  of 
using,  433. 

Hobgobblin,  31. 

Hock,  cause  of  capped,  315  ;  treatment 
of  capped,  315;  treatment  of  strain 
of  the,  322. 

Hock-joint,  strain  of  the,  322. 

Hogging  the  mane,  194. 

Hoof,  anatomy  of  the,  291 ;  develop- 
ment of  by  secretion,  293 ;  view  of 
the,  292. 

Horsemanship,  Baucher's  method  of, 
150. 

Hounds,  riding  to,  240. 

Hovel,  the,  for  the  brood  mare,  119. 

Hughes,  Mr.,  tames  the  Arabian  stal- 
lion Chillaby  36. 

Humerus,    and    scapula,    exostosis    of, 


305;  and  scapula,  treatment  of  exos- 
tosis of,  305  ;  treatment  of  fracture 
of,  310. 

Hunter,  final  preparation  of  the,  219  ; 
preparation  of  the,  206 ;  treatment 
of  blows  on  the  legs  of  the,  221  ; 
treatment  of  exhaustion  of  the,  221  ; 
treatment  of  overreach  of  the,  222  ; 
treatment  of  thorns  in  the  legs  of  the, 
221. 

Hunting  Park  Association,  established, 
470. 

Hydrophobia,  nature  of,  377  ;  symptoms 
of,  377  ;  treatment  of,  378. 

Hydrothorax,  a  sequel  of  pleurisy,  345  ; 
treatment  of,  345. 


IN-AND-IN  breeding,  103,  490  et  aeq. 

Incisor  teeth,  section  of,  257. 

Independent  (trotter),  480. 

India,  horses  of,  43. 

Indian  pony,  the,  46. 

Indigestion  (dyspepsia),  causes  of,  354; 

treatment  of,  354. 
Inflamed  bursae  mucosae,  314;  of  ten- 

derous  sheath,  314. 
Inflammation    of  the   bones,  298 ;    of 

bursae  mucosae,  314;  of  the  bladder, 

372  ;  of  the  bowels,  357  ;  of  the  brain, 

375 ;  of  the  bronchi,  329  ;  of  the  eye, 

383;    of  the   kidneys,    369;    of  the 

laryngitis,  332;    of  the  lungs,  339; 

of  the  pleura,  345  ;  of  the  stomach. 

352  ;  of  the  vein  after  bleeding,  437  , 

rheumatic,  311;    wash  for  external, 

459. 
Influenza,  nature  of,  328  ;  symptoms  of, 

328 ;    treatment    of,    328 ;    typhoid, 

symptoms  in,  329. 
Injections  (see  Clysters). 
Insects,  treatment  of  bites  and  stings 

of,  392. 
Intersusception,  nature  and  symptoms 

of,  364. 
Intestines,  anatomy  of  the,  282;  large, 

283 ;  small,  282. 
Inversion  of  the  uterus,  374. 
Iritis,  cause  of,  384  ;  symptoms  of,  385; 

treatment  of,  385. 
Iron  fitting  for  stalls  and  loose  boxes, 

172. 


532 


INDEX. 


JAMES  K.  POLK  (pacer),  479. 

Java,  the  horse  of,  44. 

Jaw,  caries  of,  307 ;  symptoms  of  caries 
of,  308  j  treatment  of,  308 ;  fracture 
of  the  bones  of,  310 ;  osteo  sarcoma 
of,  308. 

Jenny  Cameron  (imp.),  53. 

Jim  Rockey  (trotter),  483. 

Jog-trot,  the,  236. 

John  Anderson  (trotter),  480. 

John  Henry,  failure  as  a  stallion,  485. 

John  Morgan  (trotter),  480,  483  ;  pedi- 
gree of,  475,  483,  516. 

John  Stewart  (trotter),  479,  483,  505. 

Joint,  strain  of  the  coffin,  318 ;  treat- 
ment of  strain  of  the  coffin,  318; 
strains  of  the  hip,  322 ;  treatment  of, 
322  ;  dislocation  of  the  hip,  treatment 
of,  324. 

Joints,  remarks  on  the,  266 ;  wounds 
of,  324. 

Jolly  Roger  (imp.),  53. 

Jugular  vein,  when  obliterated,  renders 
the  horse  unfit  to  be  turned  out,  227. 

Jumping,  96. 

Justin  Morgan,  476,  482. 


KAILHAN,  a  breed  of  Arab  horses,  34. 

Kate  (trotter),  506. 

Kemble  Jackson  (trotter),  pedigree  of, 
480,  518. 

Kentucky,  by  Lexington,  (thorough- 
bred), 55. 

Kentucky  Chief  (trotter),  483. 

Kentucky  Clay  (trotter),  482. 

Kicking,  out  of  doors,  prevention  of, 
245;  in  the  stable,  203,  206. 

Kidneys,  diseases  of  the,  369  j  inflam- 
mation of  the,  369  j  inaction  of,  372  ; 
situation  of  the,  284. 

Knee-joint,  remarks  on  the  strain  of 
the,  317  ;  symptoms  of  strain  of  the, 
318;  treatment  of  punctured,  326; 
treatment  of  strain  of  the,  318  ;  bro- 
ken, 324 ;  wounds  of  the,  324. 

Kochlani,  a  breed  of  Arab  horses,  tra- 
dition of  the,  34. 


LACRYMAL  apparatus,  anatomy  of,  289. 

Lacteals,  the,  280. 

Lady  Franklin  (trotter),  504,  505. 


Lady  Fulton  (trotter),  505. 

Lady  Palmer  and  Flatbush  Maid  (trot- 
ters), 505. 

Lady  Suffolk  (trotter),  474,  479,  504, 
505 ;  pedigree  of,  514. 

Lady  Thorn  (trotter),  472,  480,  483, 
504  ;  pedigree  of,  515. 

Lameness,  shoulder  joint,  305. 

Laminae,  anatomy  of  the,  294. 

Laminitis,  nature  of,  403;  section  of  a 
foot  in  confirmed,  405  ;  symptoms  of, 
405  ;  treatment  of  acute,  405  ;  treat- 
ment  of  chronic,  409. 

Lamp  for  singeing,  193. 

Lampas,  symptoms  of,  351 ;  treatment 
of,  351. 

Lamplighter  (pacer),  504. 

Lantern  (trotter),  481  ;  performance 
with  Whalebone,  405. 

Laryngitis,  nature  of,  322  ;  symptoms 
of  acute,  332 ;  symptoms  of  chronic, 
333;  treatment  of  acute,  333;  treat- 
ment of  chronic,  334. 

Lateral  cartilages,  ossification  of,  301 ; 
symptoms  of  ossification  of,  301 ; 
treatment  of  ossification  of,  302. 

Lath  ( thorough-bred  J,  31. 

Leaping,  96. 

Lecompte  (thorough-bred),  stoutness 
of,  55. 

Legs,  accidents  to,  413 ;  inflammatory 
swelled,  393;  ordinary  swelled,  393; 
lotion  for  inflamed,  459. 

Lexington  (thorough-bred),  sh.ape  of, 
54 ;  stoutness  of,  53 ;  as  a  getter  of 
trotters,  489. 

Libyan  horse,  the  ancient,  17. 

Lice,  destruction  of,  391. 

Ligaments,  268;  diseases  of,  311; 
strains  of  the  suspensory,  318. 

Lighting  of  stables,  165. 

Lightning  (trotter),  481. 

Limbs,  as  agents  of  locomotion,  256; 
as  means  of  support,  255. 

Liniments,  action  of,  457 ;  recipes  for, 
457. 

List  of  English  stallions  imported  into 
America,  461. 

Litter,  remedy  for  eating  the,  205. 

Liver,  anatomy  and  function  of  the, 
283;  disease  of  the,  369;  symp- 
toms of  disease  of  the,  369;  treat- 
ment of  disease  of  the,  369. 


INDEX. 


533 


Lock-jaw,  nature  of,  378  ;  symptoms 
of,  377  ;  treatment  of,  378. 

Loins,  strains  of  the,  316;  treatment 
of  strains  of  the,  316. 

Lone  Star  (trotter),  482. 

Long  Island  Black  Hawk,  481 ;  repu- 
tation as  a  stallion,  4817  482. 

Loose  boxes,  remarks  on,  157. 

Lotions,  action  of,  459;  recipes  for, 
459. 

Lower  jaw,  treatment  of  fractures  of 
the,  310. 

Lucy  (trotter),  481,  504;  pedigree  of 
of,  481,  519. 

Lungs,  remarks  on  congestion  of  the, 
340  ;  symptoms  of  congestion  of  the, 
340  ;  treatment  of  congestion  of  the, 
341 ;  inflammation  of  (pneumonia), 
339  ;  treatment  of  haemorrhage  from 
the,  349. 

Lying  down  at  work,  245. 


MADNESS,  nature  of,  377;  symptoms 
of,  377  ;  treatment  of,  378. 

Mad  staggers,  nature  of,  375  ;  symp- 
toms of,  375;  treatment  of,  375. 

Mahomet,  the  traditional  founder  of  the 
Kochlani,  34. 

Major  Winfield,  by  Rysdyk's  Hamble- 
tonian,  481. 

Malcom,  Sir  John,  his  description  of 
the  Persian  horse,  41. 

Mallenders,  symptoms  of,  391 ;  treat- 
ment of,  391. 

Mambrino  (thorough-bred),  description 
of,  472;  influence  upon  trotting  stock, 
472,  483. 

Mambrino  Chief,  472,  483  ;  character  as 
a  stallion,  483  ;  pedigree  of,  483. 

Mambrino  Messenger  (trotter),  484. 

Mambrino  Patchen,  by  Mambrino 
Chief,  483,  484. 

Mambrino  Paymaster,  by  Mambrino, 
472,  483. 

Mambrino  Pilot,  description  of,  484 ; 
pedigree  of,  472,  480,  483,  484,  508; 
character  as  a  stallion,  484. 

Mane,  of  the  race  horse,  the,  76 ;  hog- 
ging the,  194. 

Manege,  paces  of  the,  96. 

Mange,  insect,  389;  nature  of,  389  ; 
symptoms  of,  389  ;  treatment  of,  390. 

45* 


Mangers  for  stables,  170;  material  for, 
171. 

Mare,  management  of  the  brood,  122; 
after  treatment  of  the  foal  of,  127; 
choosing  the,  for  breeding,  489 ; 
early  treatment  of  the  foal  of,  125  ; 
hovel  for,  119;  paddock  for,  118; 
time  of  sending  to  the  horse,  123  ; 
treatment  of  after  foaling,  125  ;  treat- 
ment of  when  in  foal,  123 ;  weaning 
of  the  foal  of,  127 ;  the  Arab,  40. 

Margrave  (imp.),  474. 

Marrow,  the,  250. 

Match,  trotting,  first  on  record  in  Eng- 
land, 469  ;  first  on  record  in  Ame- 
rica, 470. 

Maturity  of  the  horse,  28. 

Medicines,  list  of  the  principal,  and 
recipes  for,  448;  alteratives,  448; 
anodynes,  449;  antiseptics,  450; 
anti-zumins,  451;  aperients,  451; 
astringents,  453;  blisters,  454;  caus- 
tics, 455;  clysters,  456;  detergents, 
456;  diuretics,  457;  embrocations, 
457 ;  febrifuges,  458 ;  lotions,  459  ; 
stimulants,  459  ;  stomachics,  460  ; 
tonics,  460;  traumatics,  460;  ver- 
mifuges, 461. 

Mefki,  a  breed  of  Arab  horse,  33. 

Megrims,  nature  of,  376 ;  symptoms  of, 
376  ;  treatment  of,  376. 

Membrane,  synovial,  acute  inflamma- 
tion of  the,  313 ;  rheumatic  inflam- 
mation of,  313;  treatment  of  rheu- 
matic inflammation  of  the,  313. 

Meningitis,  cerebro-spinal,  nature  of, 
376,  418 ;  symptoms  of,  418 ;  treat- 
ment of,  419. 

Mental  development,  29. 

Messenger  (imp  ),  description  of,  471  ; 
influence  upon  trotting  stock,  471, 
472,  477 ;  character  as  a  stallion,  471  j 
his  progeny  in-bred,  492. 

Methods  of  using  the  horse,  ancient,  17. 

Middlepiece  of  the  horse,  proportions 
of,  23. 

Miller's  Damsel  (thorough-bred),  474, 
483. 

Miss  Colville  (imp.),  53. 

Mode  of  progression  in  horses,  78. 

Modern  Arab,  the,  33;  Ali  Bey's  de- 
cription  of,  33 ;  size,  35 ;  docility  of, 
36  ;  food  of,  36  ;  color  of,  37  ;  speed 


534 


INDEX. 


of,  37  ',  Capt.  Shakspear's  description 
of,  37 ;  the  mare,  40. 

Molten  grease,  treatment  of,  364. 

Monkey  (imp.),  53.    > 

Moor-ill,  symptoms  of,  419  ;  treatment 
of,  419. 

Moorish  horse,  the,  17. 

Morgan  horse  the,  48,  482 ;  Linsley's 
description  of  the,  48. 

Morrill,  pedigree  of,  482. 

Morrill  (Young),  influence  upon  trot- 
ting stock,  482 ;  pedigree  of,  482,  493, 
511. 

Moulting,  periodical,  29. 

Mountain  Boy  (trotter),  473,481  ;  pedi- 
gree of,  52L 

Mountain  Maid  (trotter),  482. 

Mount  Holly,  by  Messenger,  472. 

Mounting,  directions  for,  230  ;  Rarey's 
directions  for,  232;  Richardson's  di- 
rections for,  230. 

Mouth,  the  three-year  old,  259 ;  the 
six-year  old,  263;  the  five-year  old, 
261 ;  the  four-year  old,  260  ;  the  three- 
year  old,  259 ;  the  two-year  old,  259  ; 
the  eight-year  old,  263;  of  the  very 
old  horse,  264;  diseases  of  the,  350. 

Mucosae,  Bursae,  anatomy  of,  271 ;  in- 
flamed, 314. 

Muscles,  anatomy  of,  270 ;  diseases  of 
the,  311 ;  appearance  of  to  the  naked 
eye,  270  ;  chronic  rheumatism  of,  312 ; 
identical  in  Composition  with  the 
fibrine  of  the  blood,  270 ;  mode  of 
describing,  271;  physiology  of,  269; 
diseases  of,  311 ;  rheumatic  inflamma- 
tion of,  311. 

Mustang,  horse  the,  46. 

Myron  Perry  (trotter),  504. 


NANCY  POPE,  by  Havoc,  483. 

Narraganset  Pacer,  the,  52. 

Navicular  disease,  nature  and  cause  of, 
409,  412;  symptoms  of,  410;  treat- 
ment of,  411.  •» 

Neck,  relative  proportions  of  the,  21. 

Nejdi,  a  breed  of  Arab  horse,  33. 

Nephritis,  cause  of,  369  ;  symptoms  of, 
369;  treatment  of,  370. 

Nerves,  the,  286. 

Nervous  system,  diseases  of  the,  3"5. 

Neurotomy,  for  navicular  disease,  412. 


New  York  trotting  club  organized,  470. 

Nicking,  operation  for,  444. 

Nonpareil,  by  Cassius  M.  Clay,  482. 

Norfolk  trotter,  the,  89,  470. 

North  America,  wild  horse  of,  46. 

Nose,  the,  287;  diseases  of  the  blood- 
vessels of  the,  349;  haemorrhage  from 
the  blood-vessels  of  the,  349. 

Numidian  horse,  the,  17. 

Nymphomania,  nature  and  symptoms 
of,  374;  treatment  of,  374. 


OBJECT  of  encouraging  the  breed  of 
race-horses,  58. 

(Estrus  equi,  history  of  the,  356. 

Oneida  Chief  (pacer),  479. 

Operations,  432 ;  administration  of 
chloroform,  432  ;  methods  of  confin- 
ing the  horse,  433 ;  bleeding,  435  ; 
firing,  437;  setons  and  rowels,  439 ; 
blistering,  440 ;  castrating,  441  ; 
nicking  and  docking,  444;  unnerv- 
ing, 445;  reduction  of  hernia,  445; 
administration  of  physic,  446 ;  clys- 
ters, 447;  back-raking,  447. 

Ophthalmia,  symptoms  of  purulent, 
384;  treatment  of  purulent,  484. 

Orange  connty  horse,  the,  504,  506. 

Organs,  classification  of  the  various, 
248. 

Original  British  horse,  the,  17. 

Ossification  of  lateral  cartilages,  301; 
symptoms  of,  301 ;  treatment  of,  301. 

Osteo  sarcoma  of  the  jaw,  nature  and 
symptoms  of,  308. 

Out-crossing  in  breeding,  104,  491. 

Over-reaches,  stable  management  of, 
222;  treatment  of,  416. 

Ozena,  nature  of,  328. 


PACER,  the  Narraganset,  52. 

Pacers,  479  ;  belonging  to  trotting  fam- 
ilies, 480  ;  to  teach  to  trot,  478 ;  per- 
formances of,  479. 

Paces,  natural  and  acquired,  76  ;  modes 
of  starting  to  the  various,  235. 

Pacing,  nature  of,  96 ;  close  relation- 
ship to  trotting,  479. 

Paddock,  the,  for  brood  mares,  118. 

Pancreas,  anatomy  of  the,  284. 

Paps,  treatment  of,  352. 


INDEX. 


535 


Paralysis,  nature  of,  380;  from  injury 
of  the  spine,  380  ;  symptoms  of,  381  ; 
treatment  of,  381 ;  of  the  par-vaguin, 
418. 

Par-vagum,  paralysis  of  the,  (see  Ty- 
phosus). 

Pastern,  fractures  of  the,  310. 

Pasturing,  225. 

Patella,  dislocation  of  the,  324. 

Paul  Pry  (trotter),  471. 

Pedigrees,  importance  of  in  breeding, 
486;  tables  of,  507-523. 

Peerless  (trotter),  480,  482,  504. 

Pelham  (trotter),  479. 

Pelvic  arch,  anatomy  of  the,  255. 

Pelvis,  the,  boundaries  of,  284;  frac- 
tures of,  310. 

Performances  of  American  trotters,  ta- 
bles of,  504  et  sea. 

Perichondrium  in  the  cartilage,  267. 

Periodical  moulting,  29. 

Periosteum,  the,  250. 

Peritonitis,  nature  of,  357 ;  symptoms 
of,  359  ;  treatment  of,  359  ;  to  distin- 
guish from  colic,  360. 

Persian  horse,  the,  41. 

Pet  (trotter),  505. 

Phrenitis,  nature  of,  375 ;  symptoms 
of,  375 ;  treatment  of,  375. 

Phthisis,  symptoms  of,  346;  treatment 
of,  346. 

Physic,  circumstances  which  modify 
the  dose  of,  217;  cooling  powers  of 
218;  effects  of.  in  getting  rid  of  in- 
jurious food,  217 ;  injurious  effects 
of,  219  ;  mode  of  administering,  446 ; 
superseded  by  the  Turkish  bath  as  a 
mode  of  reducing  flesh,  218. 

Physic  balls  and  drenches,  459. 

Physiology,  of  the  blood,  273;  of  diges- 
tion, 280;  of  muscle,  269;  of  respira- 
tion, 277 ;  of  secretions,  281. 

Pilot  (bl.  g.),  479. 

Pilot  (Canadian),  475;  influence  of 
upon  trotting  stock,  476. 

Pilot,  Jr.  (Alexander's),  479,  483  ;  in- 
fluence of  upon  trotting  stock,  475. 

Pilot,  Old  (pacer),  479. 

Pilot  Temple,  483. 

Piping,  nature  of,  338. 

Plato  (thorough-bred),  influence  upon 
trotting  stock,  472,  491. 

Pleura,  anatomy  of  the,  272.    • 


Pleurisy,  symptoms  of,  345 ;  treatment 

of,  345. 

Pleurodynia,  nature  of,  345  ;  treatment 
of,  346. 

Plunging,  treatment  of,  245. 
Pneumonia,  cause  of,  340 ;  definition 
of,  339;  sub-acute,  344;  hepatization 
in,  344 ;  symptoms  of  acute,  343 ; 
termination  of,  344;  treatment  of 
acute,  343. 

Pocahontas,  Jr.  (trotter),  480. 

Pocahontas  (pacer),  performances  of, 
96,  470,  480 ;  pedigree  of,  480,  522 ; 
progeny  of,  480. 

Points  of  the  trotter,  495;  of  the  horse, 
20  ;  proportions  of  the  various,  26. 

Poll-evil,  nature  of,  307;  symptoms  of, 
307 ;  treatment  of,  307. 

Porter,  Sir  Robert  Ker,  his  description 
of  the  Persian  horse,  41. 

Post  Boy  (thorough-bred),  influence 
upon  trotting  stock,  493;  pedigree 
of,  493. 

Potomac  (thorough-bred),  471. 

Preparation,  final,  of  the  hunter,  219; 
of  the  hunter,  206;  for  work,  206; 
of  hacks  for  work,  220. 

Pricks,  from  a  nail  picked  up  on  the 
road,  416;  in  shoeing,  416;  treat- 
ment of  in  shoeing,  416;  treatment  of 
from  a  nail  picked  upon  the  road,  416. 

Prioress  (thorough-bred),  her  staying 
qualities,  54. 

Progression,  mode  of,  78. 

Proportions  of  the  various  points,  26. 

Proud-flesh,  in  wounds,  medicines  for 
destroying,  456. 

Puffs,  treatment  of,  315. 

Purges  (See  Aperients). 

Purity  of  blood  in  the  thorough-bred,  60. 

Purulent  opthalmia,  symptoms  of,  384; 
treatment  of,  384. 

Putrescence  in  sores  and  ulcers,  medi- 
cines for,  450. 

Putrid  fever  (See  Typhosus). 


Quarter,  points  of  the  fore,  21 ;  points 
of  the  hind,  26  ;  nature  of  false,  399  ; 
treatment  of  false,  400. 

Queen  Mab  (imp.),  53. 

Quittor,  nature  of,  400  ;  treatment  of, 
400. 


536 


INDEX. 


Rabies,  nature  and  symptoms  of,  377. 

Race-horse,  croup  of  the,  65 ;  back  of 
the  65  ;  back  ribs  of  the,  70 ;  belly 
of  the  70 ;  bone  of  the  leg  of  the,  73 ; 
coat  of  the,  75  ;  color  of  the,  75  ;  ex- 
ternal formation  of  the,  61 ;  flank  of 
the,  70  ;  fore-arm,  or  arm  of  the,  73  ; 
head  of  the,  71  j  height  of  the,  75  ; 
hind  quarter  or  the,  74;  knee  of  the, 
73 ;  loins  of  the,  65 ;  mane  of  the, 
76 ;  neck  cf  the,  70  ;  object  of  en- 
couraging the  breed  of,  70 ;  purity 
of  blood  in  the,  60  ;  shoulder  blade 
of  the,  72  ;  tail  of  the,  76. 

Racing  or  hunting  stable,  ground  plan 
of,  175. 

Racking,  95. 

Racks  for  stables,  170;  material  for, 
171. 

Radius,  fracture  of  the,  310. 

Rarey's  apparatus  for  breaking  horses, 
130;  halter  or  bridle  for  colts,  142; 
method  of  training,  128  ;  reflections 
on  plans  of,  137. 

Rearing,  management  of,  244. 

Red  Jacket,  influence  of  as  a  stallion, 
474. 

Reduction  of  hernia,  445. 

Reins,  management  of,  233. 

Relationship  of  pacers  to  trotters,  480. 

Relative  influence  of  sire  and  dam,  110, 
486. 

Relative  proportions  of  the  fore-quar- 
ters, 21  ;  of  the  head,  19 ;  of  the 
horse,  19  ;  of  the  neck,  21. 

Respiration,  eflFect  of  on  atmospheric 
air,  277 ;  physiology  of,  277. 

Retention  of  urine,  treatment  of,  373. 

Rheumatic  inflammation,  311;  peculiar 
to  foals,  313. 

Rheumatism,  symptoms  of  acute,  311 ; 
treatment  of  acute,  312;  symptoms 
of  chronic,  312. 

Rhode  Island  (trotter),  504. 

Ribs,  treatment  of  fractured,  310. 

Riding,  230 ;  to  hounds,  240 ;  to  hound-s, 
rules  adopted  in,  240 ;  to  hounds,  di- 
rections for,  241 ;  modes  of  starting 
the  horse  in  the  various  paces,  235  ; 
mounting  and  dismounting,  230; 
management  of  the  reins  in,  233 ; 
necessity  of  good  hands  in,  238 ;  the 
seat  in,  232;  starting  into  a  gallop, 


239;  starting  into  a  trot  in,  236; 
starting  into  a  walk  in,  235. 

Ring  bone,  300  ;  nature  of,  300  ;  symp- 
toms of,  301 ;  treatment  of,  301 ;  rem- 
edy for,  455. 

Roanoke  (pacer),  479. 

Roaring,  nature  and  causes  of,  335 ; 
produced  by  alteration  in  the  shape 
of  the  cartilages,  337 ;  produced  by 
thickening  of  the  mucous  membrane, 
335;  produced  by  paralysis  of  the 
muscles  of  the  larynx,  336;  remarks 
on,  335  ;  plan  for  stopping  the  noise 
made  in,  335. 

Rolla  Golddust  (trotter),  479. 

Roman  horse,  the,  16. 

Romp  (thorough-bred),  479. 

Round  worms,  367. 

Rowels,  439. 

Roxana  (thorough-bred,  English),  31. 

Royal  George,  475  ;  pedigree  of,  475. 

Running,  the  pace,  96. 

Running  away,  management  of,  245. 

Rupture  of  the  bowels,  364. 

Rysdyk's  Hambletonian,  pedigree  of, 
472, 473, 481,  507;  closely  inbred,  490. 


SABI,  a  breed  of  Arab  horse,  33. 

Saddlery,  care  of,  227. 

Saladin  (trotter),  481. 

Sallenders,  symptoms  of,  391 ;  treat- 
ment of,  391. 

Salt,  as  food,  180. 

Saltram  (pacer),  480. 

Sand-crack,  nature  of,  399;  treatment 
of,  399. 

Sarcoma,  Osteo,  308. 

Saunterer  (an  English  thorough-bred), 
64  ;  portrait  of,  64. 

Scapula,  exostosis  of,  305  ;  fractures 
of  the,  310;  strains  of  the,  310. 

Scratches  (Grease),  394;  nature  and 
treatment  of,  395. 

Scratching  the  ear,  management  of 
204. 

Screwdriver,  (trotter),  471,  505. 

Scripture,  the  horse  of,  13. 

Seat  in  riding,  directions  for,  232. 

Seclaoni,  a  breed  of  Arab  horses,  33. 

Secretion,  physiology  of,  281;  medi- 
cines for  defective,  449. 

Seedy  toe,  nature  and  treatment  of,  408. 


INDEX. 


537 


Seeley's  American  Star,  pedigree  of, 
474,482;  character  as  a  stallion,  482. 

Selima  (imp.),  53. 

Sensation,  nerves  of,  supplied  to  the 
lips,  290. 

Servants'  rooms  in  stables,  174. 

Setons,  insertion  of,  439. 

Seton  needles,  description  of,  439 ;  view 
of,  439. 

Shakspeare  (trotter),  471,  472. 

Shakspear,  Capt,  his  description  of  the 
Arab  horse,  37. 

Shaving,  193. 

Sheaths,  inflamed  tendinous,  nature  and 
treatment  of,  314. 

Sherman,  by  Justin  Morgan,  476. 

Shoe,  clenches  for  the,  200 ;  losing  the, 
200  ;  removal  of  the,  199  ;  view  of  a 
sound  fore  foot  prepared  for  the,  426. 

Shoeing,  422  et  seq.;  pricks  in,  415. 

Shoulder,  oblique,  22;  remarks  on  strain 
of,  317;  symptoms  of  strain  of,  317; 
treatment  for  strain  of,  317  ;  upright, 
lotion  for  galled,  22  ;  galled,  317. 

Shouldering,  the  habit  of,  245. 

Shoulder-joint  lameness,  nature  and 
treatment  of,  305. 

Shying,  management  of,  243. 

Siam,  the  horses  of,  44. 

Sidebone,  nature  of,  300 ;  symptoms 
of,  301;  treatment  of,  301. 

Side  line,  description  and  use  of,  434. 

Sight,  the  organ  of,  287. 

Sinews,  strains  of  the  back,  319. 

Singeing,  192;  lamp  for,  193. 

Sire  and  dam,  relative  influence  of, 
486;  condition  of  in  breeding,  500. 

Sir  Harry  (thorough-bred),  by  Messen- 
ger, 472. 

Sir  Henry  (thorough-bred),  influence 
of  upon  trotting  stock,  474,  481. 

Sir  Peter  (trotter),  471,  472. 

Sir  Solomon,  by  Messenger  (thorough- 
bred), 472. 

Sir  Tatton  Sykes  (English  thorough- 
bred), 63,  75. 

Sir  Walter  Scott  (pacer),  479. 

Sitfasts,  treatment  of,  391. 

Size,  importance  of  in  the  stallion,  486; 
-f  the  trotting  horse,  495. 

Skeleton,  the,  250  ;  number  of  bones 
composing  the,  252;  the  artificial, 
251. 


Skin,  the  organ  of  touch,  290 ;  medi- 
cines for  disordered  state  of  the,  448. 

Skull,  treatment  of  fractures  of,  310. 

Sleepy  staggers  (See  Apoplexy),  380. 

Smell,  anatomy  of  the  organ  of,  287. 

Soiling,  223. 

Sole,  anatomy  of  the,  293;  treatment 
of  bruises  of,  416. 

Sontag  (trotter),  479,  480. 

Sore-throat,  treatment  of,  350;  treat- 
ment of  catarrhal,  327. 

Sovereign  (imp.),  103. 

Soundness,  importance  of,  in  sire  and 
dam,  107,  486. 

South  American  horse,  the,  45. 

Spark  (imp.),  53. 

Spasm  of  the  diaphragm,  symptoms  of, 
348;  treatment  of,  348. 

Spasmodic  colic,  treatment  for,  361. 

Spavin,  nature  of  bog,  313;  nature  of 
bone,  302 ;  symptoms  of  bone,  303 ; 
treatment  of  bog,  313;  treatment  of 
bone,  303 ;  remedy  for,  455. 

Speed  of  the  Arab  horse,  37 ;  import- 
ance of,  in  the  stallion,  486 ;  of  the 
trotter,  495. 

Spinal  column,  bones  composing  the, 
252  ;  general  anatomy  of  the,  252. 

Spinal  cord,  the  source  of  the  power  to 
move,  497. 

Spine,  injury  of  the,  causing  paralysis, 
380;  fractures  of  the,  310. 

Spleen,  anatomy  and  function  of  the, 
283. 

Splints,  definition  of,  298;  symptoms 
of,  298;  treatment  of,  299;  remedy 
for,  455. 

St.  Lawrence,  influence  of  upon  trot- 
ting stock,  476;  character  as  a  stal- 
lion, 476. 

Stable  management,  177  ;  vices  and  bad 
habits,  202. 

Stables,  aspect  of,  156;  doors  of,  161  ; 
drainage  of,  163 ;  coach  house  of, 
174;  chaff  or  grain  shoots  in,  160; 
floors  of,  materials  for,  161  ;  enam- 
elled tiles  for,  172;  fittings,  168; 
foundations  of,  157 ;  gangway  bail 
for,  170;  granary  of,  160;  ground 
plans  of,  174;  harness  room,  for, 
173;  hay-chamber  of,  159  ;  lighting 
of.  165;  mangers  for,  170;  material 
for  mangers  of,  170;  necessity  for 


538 


INDEX. 


airing  new,  176;  number  of  stalls  in, 
157 ;  plan  of  for  three  or  four  horses, 
176;  proper  temperature  of,  200; 
racks  for,  170;  servants'  rooms  of, 
174;  situation  of,  155 ;  stalls  and 
loose  boxes  of,  157;  the  travis,  169; 
ventilation  of,  165;  ventilating  win- 
dows in,  162;  walls,  lining  of,  173; 
water  pipes  for,  165;  water  supply 
of,  165;  windows  for,  162. 
Stafford,  tamed  by  Rarey,  128, 130, 131. 
Staggers,  mad,  nature  and  symptoms 
of,  375 ;  mad,  treatment  of,  375  ; 
sleepy,  380;  stomach,  nature,  and 
symptoms  of,  353;  stomach,  treat- 
ment of,  354  ;  remedy  for,  453. 
Stallion,  choosing  a,  for  breeding  pur- 
poses, 486 ;  importance  of  a  good 
pedigree  in,  486  ;  of  soundness  in, 
486  ;  of  size  of,  486  ;  of  color  of,  486. 
Stallions,  list  of,  imported  into  Ame- 
rica, 461. 

Stalls,  157  :  iron  fittings  for,  172. 
Standing,  attitude  assumed  in,  78. 
Strangulation  of  the  bowels,  nature  and 

symptoms  of,  364. 
Starting  the  horse  in  his  various  paces, 

modes  of,  235. 
Stench  traps,  16J. 

Stifle  joint,  symptoms  of  strain  of  the, 

322 ;  treatment  of  strain  of  the,  322. 

Stimulants,  action  of,  459;  recipes  for, 

459. 

Stings  of  insects,  treatment  of,  392. 
Stomach,  anatomy  of  the,  282;  medi- 
cines for  debility  of,  449  ;  small,  29  ; 
staggers,  353. 
Stomachics,  action  of,  460  ;  recipes  for, 

460. 

Stonewall  Jackson  (trotter),  505. 
Strains,  nature  of,  316;  of  the  back 
sinews,  symptoms  of,  319  ;  of  the  back 
sinews,  remarks  on,  31.9;  of  the  back 
sinews,  treatment  of,  320  ;  of  the  back 
and  loins,  nature  and  symptoms,  316  ; 
of  the  back  and  loins,  treatment  of, 
316  ;  of  the  coffin-joint,  remarks  on, 
318  ;  of  the  coffin-joint,  treatment  of, 
318;  of  the  hock,  symptoms  of,  322; 
of  the  hock,  treatment  of,  322  :  of  the 
fetlock,  remarks  on,  318;  of  the  fet- 
lock, treatment,  of  the,  318  ;  of  the 
hip-joint,  symptoms  of,  322;  of  tho- 1 


hip-joint,  treatment  of,  322 ;  of  the 
knee,  symptoms  of,  317  ;  of  the  knee, 
treatment  of,  315;  of  the  shoulder, 
symptoms  of,  317;  of  the  shoulder, 
treatment  of,  317;  of  the  stifle-joint, 
symptoms  of,  322 ;  of  the  stifle- 
joint,  treatment  of,  322;  of  the  sus- 
pensory ligaments,  symptoms  of, 
318;  of  the  suspensory  ligaments, 
treatment  of,  319. 

Strangles,  symptoms  of,  351 ;  treatment 
of,  351. 

Stride,  in  trotting,  essential  elements 
of  the,  495. 

String  halt,  nature  and  causes  of,  381. 

Structure  of  bone,  248. 

Stumbling,  management  of,  246. 

Summering,  222. 

Sunstroke,  nature  of,  382;  treatment 
of,  382. 

Superpurgation,  symptoms  of,  363 ; 
treatment  of,  363 ;  remedy  for,  449. 

Surfeit,  nature  and  symptoms  of,  388; 
treatment  of,  388. 

Surplice  (English  thorough-bred),  75. 

Suspensory  ligaments,  strain  of  the, 
symptoms  of,  318;  strain  of  the, 
treatment  of,  319. 

Sweat,  mode  of  giving  the  ordinary, 
210. 

Sweating,  object  of,  208;  the  ordinary, 
210. 

Swelled  legs,  inflammatory,  treatment 
of,  393;  ordinary,  nature  and'symp- 
toms  of,  393;  ordinary,  treatment  of, 
393. 

Synovial  membrane,  nature  and  treat- 
ment of  acute  inflammation  of,  313; 
nature  and  treatment  of  rheumatic 
inflammation  of,  313 ;  diseases  of, 
312. 


TACKEY  (pacer),  483. 

Tacony  (trotter),  505. 

Tail,  anatomy  of  the,  255  ;  of  the  tho- 
rough-bred race  horse,  76. 

Tartary,  the  horses  of,  43. 

Tattler  (trotter),  483,  5.04. 

Teeth,  after  nine  years,  264;  at  nine 
years.  264  :  at  about  the  eighth  year, 
263  ;  at  the  end  of  the  first  year,  258; 
bishoping  of,  264;  composition  of, 


INDEX. 


539 


257  5  development  of  the,  257  ;  dur- 
ing the  second  year,  259 ;  during  the 
third  year,  259  ;  horseman's  nomen- 
clature of,  258;  irregularities  in  the 
growth  of,  265  ;  lower  nippers  and 
tushes  at  five  years,  262 ;  mouth  at 
three  years,  260 ;  mouth  at  four 
years,  260  ;  mouth  at  five  years,  261 ; 
of  the  very  old  horse,  264  ;  shedding 
of,  between  four  and  a-half  and  five 
years,  261 ;  the  six  year  old  mouth, 
263  ;  view  of  the  mouth  at  four  and 
a-half  years,  260  ;  view  of  the  upper 
nippers  and  tushes  at  five  years,  261 ; 
upper  nippers  in  the  eight  year  old 
horse,  263  ;  formula  of,  257  ;  section 
of  incisor  or  nipper,  257 ;  molar  or 
grinder,  258;  milk  incisors,  258; 
canine  teeth,  or  tushes,  258. 

Tendinous  sheaths,  imflammation  of, 
314;  treatment  of  inflamed,  314. 

Tendon,  268  ;  disease  of  the,  311;  in 
muscle,  269 ;  treatment  of  small 
tumors  on  the,  312. 

Tetanus,  nature  of,  378  ;  symptoms  of, 
379  ;  treatment  of,  379. 

Thick  wind,  nature  of,  347. 

Thiselo  (see  Fistula  of  the  Withers). 

Thoracic,  arch,  anatomy  of  the,  254; 
organs,  diseases  of  the,  326. 

Thorax,  boundaries  of,  273  ;  contents 
of,  272  ;  plan  of  the,  272. 

Thormanby  (English  thorough-bred), 
58. 

Thorns  in  the  leg  of  the  hunter,  treat- 
ment of,  221. 

Thorough-bred,  the,  57 ;  essentials  in 
the,  60  ;  external  formation  of,  61  ; 
general  history  of  the  American,  52  ; 
stoutness  of  the  American,  54. 

Thoroughpin,  nature  and  symptoms  of, 
313  ;  treatment  of,  313  ;  treatment 
of  when  in  the  biirsa,  315. 

Thread  worms,  368. 

Throat,  treatment  of  sore,  350. 

Thrush,  varieties  of,  401 ;  treatment 
of,  402. 

Tibia,  fractures  of  the,  310. 

Tiles,  enamelled  for  stables,  172. 

Tip  (trotter),  479. 

Tippecanoe  (pacer),  479. 

Tissue,  fibrous,  268 ;  white,  268 ;  yel- 
low, 268  ;  red,  268  ;  chemical  compo- 
sition of,  269. 


Toe,  treatment  of  seedy,  408. 

Tom  Chowder,  483. 

Tom  Thumb  (Webber's),  influence  upon 
trotting  stock,  482. 

Tom  Wonder,  483. 

Tongue,  black  (See  Typhosus). 

Tonics,  action  of,  460  ;  recipes  for,  460. 

Toorkistan,  the  horses  of,  42. 

Topgallant  (trotter),  471,  472,  505. 

Touch,  anatomy  of  the  organ  of,  290  ; 
sense  of,  necessary  to  the  apprecia- 
tion of  form,  2(JO. 

Training  colts  to  trot,  501. 

Training  horses,  Rarcy's  method,  128. 

Traumatics,  action  of,  460  ;  recipes  for, 
460. 

Traveller  (imp.),  53. 

Travis,  the,  of  stables,  168. 

Trevis,  the,  or  break,  435. 

Trimming,  193. 

Trot,  the,  86 ;  action  in  the  true,  88  ; 
starting  into  a,  236  ;  the  jog,  87  ;  the 
flying,  87;  dishing,  in  the,  88  ;  teach- 
ing the  colt  to,  501. 

Trotter,  the  American,  50,  467  et  seq. ; 
the  Norfolk,  89,  470;  early  Ameri- 
can, 471  ;  influence  of  imported  tho- 
rough-breds,  471 ;  influence  of  Cana- 
dian stallions,  474;  trotting  families, 
481;  breeding  of  the,  485;  principles 
of  breeding  of,  485  et  aeq. ;  points  of 
a,  495 ;  elements  of  speed  in,  497 ; 
training,  501  et  seq. ;  performances 
of,  504  et  seq. 

Trotting,  origination  of,  in  England  as 
a  public  amusement,  469  ;  origina- 
tion of,  in  America  as  a  public  amuse- 
ment, 470 ;  first  match  on  record, 
470;  establishment  of  trotting  clubs, 
470;  influence  of  imported  thorough- 
breds upon  the  trotting  stock  of 
America,  471;  relationship  to  pacing, 
480;  principles  of  breeding  and  train- 
ing, 485. 

Trouble  (trotter),  471,  472. 

Trumpeting,  nature  of,  338. 

Trustee  (imp.),  474,  505. 

True  Briton,  the  founder  of  the  Morgan 
stock,  48. 

True  John  (trotter),  480. 

Tumors,  treatment  of  small,  on  the  ten- 
dons, 312. 

Turkish  bath,  description  of  the,  213 
plan  of  a,  214. 


540 


INDEX. 


Turkish  horse,  the,  42. 
Turning  out  to  grass,  225. 
Twitch,  the,  435. 
Typhoid  fever  (See  Typhosus). 
Typhosus,    nature    and    symptoms    of, 
418;  treatment  of,  419. 

Ulcers,  lotions  for  foul,  459. 

Umpire  (thoroughbred),  54. 

Unknown  (pacer),  479. 

Unnerving,  remarks  on,  445. 

Unsoundness  of  the  feet  and  legs, 
marshes  useful  in,  225. 

Urine,  bloody,  nature  and  symptoms 
of,  371 ;  bloody,  treatment  of,  372 ; 
retention  of,  causes  of,  373  ;  retention 
of,  treatment  for,  373  ;  bloody,  medi- 
cines for,  453 ;  medicines  to  increase 
the  flow  of,  457. 

Uterus,  inversion  of  the,  374. 

Vagina,  inflammation  of  the,  374;  treat- 
ment for  inflammation  of  the,  374. 

Vein,  inflammation  of,  after  bleeding, 
437. 

Venous  blood,  action  of  air  on,  277. 

Ventilating  shaft,  167  ;  windows,  162. 

Ventilation  of  stables,  166. 

Vermifuges,  action  of,  461 ;  recipes  for, 
461. 

Vermont  Black  Hawk  (also  called 
Hill's),  476,  477;  influence  upon  trot- 
ting stock,  476;  character  as  a  stal- 
lion, 477,  481. 

Vermont  cart  horse,  the,  55. 

Vertebrae,  anatomy  of  the,  253. 

Vices,  out  door,  243;  treatment  of, 
243;  shying,  243;  rearing,  244; 
kicking,  245 ;  lying  down,  245 ; 
plunging,  245  ;  running  away,  245  ; 
stumbling,  246;  cutting,  246;  stable, 
remedies  for,  202. 

Viscera,  abdominal,  diseases  of  the,  350. 

Vives,  treatment  of,  352. 

Vosburgh,  by  Mambrino  Pilot,  484. 

WALK,  action  in  the,  82  ;  exceptional 
mode  of  starting  for  the,  82  ;  mode 
of  starting  the  horse  into  a,  235 ;  of 
horses,  the,  78 ;  received  interpreta- 
tion of  the,  81 ;  starting  for  the,  80 
order  of  sequence  of  the  feet  in  the,  79 

Walking,  rate  of,  86. 

Warbles,  treatment  of,  391.    ^^  8 


Var  Eagle  (trotter),  conformation  of, 
495. 

Warts.,  removal  of,  396. 

Washes,  action  of,  459  ;  recipes  for,  459. 

Water  in  the  chest  (Hydrothorax),  na- 
ture and  treatment  of,  345. " 

Water  pipes  for  stables,  165. 

Water,  remarks  on,  180;  proper  quan- 
tity of,  181 ;  proper  temperature  of, 
182  ;  quality  of,  182. 

Weaving,  remedy  for,  205. 

Webber's  Tom  Thumb  (trotter),  influ- 
ence upon  trotting  stock,  482. 

Weight,  distribution  of,  76. 

Western  hemisphere,  horses  of  the,  45. 

Whalebone  (trotter),  471,  472. 

Wheezing,  nature  of,  338. 

Whip  (imp.),  474. 

Whistling,  nature  of,  338. 

Why  Not,  by  Messenger,  472. 

Wild  Dayrell  (English  thorough-bred), 
75. 

Wild  horse  of  America,  Herbert's  ac- 
count of  the,  46. 

Wild  Tartar  horse,  the,  43. 

Wilkes'  Old  Hautboy  Mare  (imp.),  53. 

Wind,  broken,  nature  and  symptoms 
of,  346 ;  broken,  treatment  of,  347  ; 
thick,  nature  of,  347. 

Windows  for  stables,  162. 

Wind-galls,  nature  and  treatment  of, 
314  ;  remedy  for,  458. 

Withers,  fistula  of  the,  nature  of,  306; 
fistula  of  the,  symptoms  of,  306;  fis- 
tula of  the,  treatment  of,  306. 

Woodpecker  (trotter),  479. 

Work,  preparation  for,  206  ;  treatment 
of,  after,  220. 

Worms,  intestinal,  367 ;  symptoms  of 
intestinal,  367  ;  treatment  of  intesti- 
nal, 368. 

Worm  medicines,  action  of,  461 ;  re- 
cipes, 461. 

Wounds,  medicines  to  destroy  proud 
flesh  in,  455;  of  joints,  treatment  of, 
324. 

Xenophon,  his  directions  for  purchas- 
ing a  horse,  14. 

Young  Bashaw,  474 ;  character  of,  as  a 
stallion,  481. 
ung    Morrill   (trotter),  pedigree  of, 


'  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 


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c  per  volume  after      e  th.ro  oaj 


demand  may   u«  r«»»«»«~- 
expiration_ofjoa^period^ 

MAY   7  1926 
CT  111926 


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ta  made  Wore 


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5m-7,  25 


YC  20559 


U.C.BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


